If you missed the webcast of Mallory Thompson conducting the Northwestern University Symphonic Wind Ensemble last night, you missed an incredible event. The featured work was a rarely performed work by Sergei Prokofiev, Ode to the End of the War, opus 105. The piece was huge, featuring wind ensemble, four pianos and four harps! (It was originally scored for eight harps — but seriously, there are limits to everything.) The colors and textures created by this combination are simply amazing.

Also on the program was graduate student, Kim Fleming, from Bergen County, who started her grad work with Mallory this fall. She has attended many WSW concerts in the time when Mike Vecchio played euphonium with us. Both Mike and Kim are in Evanston now and we send them our best wishes.

If you missed the concert, it is likely to be added to the Davee Video Library, at http://www.pickstaiger.org/video-library. Also worthy of note in that library is Mallory’s “Trumpet Legacy” performance from last spring, honoring Barbara Butler and Charles Geyer with a performance of Concerto for Seven Trumpets and Tympani by Altenburg. It featured 14 Northwestern Alumni, former students of Barbara & Charlie, who have gone on to amazing careers in professional orchestras, military bands, and music education. It is an incredible and unique tribute, preserved in this amazing video.