(Photot courtesy of armyfieldband.com)
By Luke Riela, Staff Writer -- riela14@up.edu
This evening, people can escape the brisk January weather and experience a different kind of wind.
Tonight at 7:30 in the Buckley Center Auditorium, The Pentagon Winds will play classical music.
The Pentagon Winds is a woodwind quintet that is is part of The United States Army Field Band.
"Since they're an army ensemble, people think they're going to be playing marches," Michael Connolly, a professor of performing and fine arts, said.
However, this isn't the case. According to Master Sgt. Alan White, horn player and head of the quintet, the classical music will not be what most students are used to.
"I try to find pieces that aren't necessarily the most well known, but really well written," White said.
Connolly thinks a small ensemble like The Pentagon Winds will have a much different feel than that of a larger performance.
"It's somewhat of a discussion among the five players," he said. "You can watch every player and see how they play."
According to Connolly, with such a small performance, each member contributes a necessary component.
"When you have five players, they all have to be really good and have to be independent," Connolly said.
Connolly believes members of The Pentagon Winds are very qualified for the task. According to White, they all have master's degrees in music and have extensive backgrounds in musical performances.
According to White, the quintet was formed in 1989 as part of the Field Band's College Clinic Team, but was more of a group of musicians with different talents. In 1999, the team was split up and The Pentagon Winds was created.
"It's an extraordinary experience for a musician to be in a quintet like this," he said of his group.
Since 1999, the quintet has performed for universities all over the nation, according to White.
"At least 100 days of the year, we are on tours around the country," White said. "We have been to basically every state in the country."
The quintet represents The Army Band Educational Outreach Program.
"As part of this outreach program, one of our aims is to let students know of the many opportunities in the army field band," White Said.
White pointed out that the only requirements for application into The Army Field Band are that the musician is 18 and has graduated from high school.
According to Connolly, The Pentagon Winds quintet will offer a unique performance that is worth checking out.
"I don't think we've had a group on campus like this in 23 years," he said. "It will be an excellent program."
