By Donna Langwig

Vista Fine Arts is thrilled to host the Tempe Symphonic Wind Ensemble for their first-ever concert in Tucson. The concert will be held at Vista de la Montaña United Methodist Church at 3001 Miravista Lane in Catalina, located on the west side of Oracle Road, 3.7 miles north of Tangerine, on Jan. 27 at 3 p.m.

This ensemble, organized in 1990, is composed of 46 of the finest musicians from the Phoenix metropolitan area. These musicians are dedicated to the performance of outstanding band literature and have provided Arizona with a unique cultural experience of the highest quality.

Under the direction of Dr. Michael Willson, the ensemble is critically acclaimed for its high caliber of performance and is recognized as one of the finest wind ensembles in the United States. Dr. Willson, a music educator for 30 years, serves as a guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States.

In 2002, the ensemble was awarded the Sudler Silver Scroll by the John Philip Sousa Foundation for outstanding musical achievement and service to the community. This is North America’s most prestigious award for community concert bands.

The ensemble, now in its seventeenth season, plays for the love of music and will offer a delightful program. It is an indoor “Concert in the Park” format, which offers favorites including marches, great classics, musicals and folk tunes.

The concert is free and open to everyone in the community, though donations will be accepted. Please join us for an afternoon of joyful, familiar, exhilarating music. For more information, visit VistaUMC.org or call 520-825-1985.

Vista Fine Arts presents the Tempe Symphonic Wind Ensemble