UND Wind Ensemble performed at North Dakota Music Educators Association Conference

The University of North Dakota Wind Ensemble, selected through a juried process, presented a feature performance at the 2023 North Dakota Music Educators Association Conference.

Held in Bismarck last week, the conference was attended by hundreds of professional music educators from North Dakota, as well as talented high school students selected for the All-State Bands, Choirs and Orchestra.

The Wind Ensemble is conducted by James Popejoy, director of bands and professor of music at UND. Consisting of the most outstanding wind and percussion students selected by audition, the Wind Ensemble has performed under his direction at six NDMEA Conferences; the Inaugural North Dakota Arts & Humanities Summit; the College Band Directors National Association North Central Division Conference; the Western International Band Clinic; and the Percy Grainger Wind Band Festival.

The theme for the Wind Ensemble’s concert was JOY! and featured performances of “Revelry” by William Pitts; “Vulnerable Joy” by Jodie Blackshaw; “Traveler” by David Maslanka; and Timothy Mahr’s “Fantasia in G.”