Salt Lake Symphonic Winds to wrap up 20th season

The Salt Lake Symphonic Winds will wrap up their twentieth season with an anniversary concert at Westminster College on Wednesday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m., with special guest conductor and founder Dr. Barry E. Kopetz.

The Salt Lake Symphonic Winds is a non-profit organization dedicated to the highest quality performance of the vast wind band repertory.

Its membership consists music educators, businessmen and women, engineers, and individuals from other diverse professional backgrounds.

Dr. Kopetz founded the Salt Lake Symphonic Winds in 1992, while serving as the Director of Bands at the University of Utah.

"Dr. Kopetz had the talent to bring the best out in the band. After each rehearsal you felt like you had been challenged, but rewarded for your accomplishments during that rehearsal," says clarinet player Keith Hardy, in a press release, of his experience performing under Dr. Kopetz's direction.

After eight years of conducting with the Symphonic Winds, Dr. Kopetz is the Director of Bands at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.

The Salt Lake Symphonic Winds' current conductor, Dr. Thomas P. Rohrer, was selected as the conductor for the group in 2005. Dr. Rohrer is the Director of Bands and Director of Music Education at Utah State University.Members of the group meet once a week at Highland High School to rehearse.

The approaching anniversary concert will feature various works directed by Rohrer, as well as founding Director Dr. Kopetz. The audience can expect Johan de Meij's Symphony No. 2 and Rorher's Americana Folk Suite, along with a variety of other arrangements.

Concert admission is free of charge.