Wind Ensemble to Perform New Kirby Piece Composed as a Tribute to Branden Atherton
March 06, 2007


Rick Kirby has composed a wonderful new piece titled "Homage to a Friend" as a tribute to his former student and Waukesha West alumnus Branden Atherton.

The West Wind Ensemble will give Kirby's new piece its premier performance on Wednesday March 14 in the Waukesha West Auditorium. The concert will begin at 7 PM with the Blue Concert Band performing first, followed by the Wind Ensemble.

Mr. Kirby will guest conduct the Wind Ensemble in performance for the first time since his retirement from West High School in 2001. We are very pleased that Mr. Kirby has asked the Wind Ensemble to give his piece its premier performance, and we have enjoyed learning to perform this new piece with the composer. In addition, Mr. Jason Gillette, Director of Bands at Brookfield Central High School and Waukesha South High School graduate will join the Wind Ensemble to perform the saxophone solo written in "Homage to a Friend."

This concert will be the first of three concerts presented by the West band program over the next two weeks. On Thursday March 15 the Silver Concert Band and Symphonic Winds and Percussion will present their final Winter Concert, and you won't want to miss the jazz concert scheduled on Tuesday March 20 featuring the Central Middle School "Downtown Jazz" and West's Thursday Jazz, Tuesday Jazz, and Jazz Ensemble One.

We'd love to see great audiences at all three events!

See you there!!