The Famous Maroon Band of Mississippi State University will showcase its wind ensemble next week with a performance during the 86th annual Mississippi Bandmasters Association State Band Clinic.

Taking place in Natchez, the clinic will include more than 300 middle school and high school band students from around the Magnolia State, including those selected through competitive audition to the Mississippi All-State Concert Band as well as band directors teaching at every level.

MSU’s wind ensemble performs at 7:30 p.m. Friday, at the Natchez Convention Center. Under the direction of Elva Kaye Lance, MSU director of bands, the concert is free and open to the public, and MSU alumni and friends are encouraged to attend.

“We are excited to be the featured university band at our state conference. This performance gives us an opportunity to showcase the outstanding musicianship of our students in our concert program,” Lance said.

“Many are familiar with our marching band as they see the Famous Maroon Band perform at MSU football games but may have never attended a performance of one of our concert ensembles. I always enjoy sharing the podium with our Associate Directors Drs. Craig Aarhus and Clifton Taylor, who will also conduct the band during the performance,” she said.

In addition to featuring soloist Willian da Silva, a junior vocal performance major from Brazil, the concert will showcase the talent of principal clarinetist Kathryn McArthur, a music education senior from Gautier, on the Franz von Suppe overture “Morning, Noon, and Night in Vienna,” as well as the premier performance of Associate Director Taylor’s setting of the jazz piece “Four Brothers” featuring the saxophone section.

Learn more about MSU’s Famous Maroon Band and its ensembles at msuband.msstate.edu. Visit the Mississippi Bandmasters Association at msbandmasters.com.