Delaware Symphonic Winds to perform April 19

Delaware Symphonic Winds will perform its spring concert program, Windswept Journeys, at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 19, at Cape Henlopen High School, Lewes.

The Cape Henlopen Junior Honors Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Terry Alvey, will perform a prelude concert beginning at 2:30 p.m. The extracurricular group meets after school once a week, and performs at various festivals and community events. Established in 2025 through a collaboration between high school and middle school instrumental directors, the ensemble is composed of student musicians from Beacon, Mariner and Fred Thomas middle schools.

Delaware Winds is the First State’s only semiprofessional wind ensemble. The group includes band directors, freelance musicians and college music students who reside throughout the region. The mission of Delaware Winds is to perform the finest musical literature available for wind band, and the group is intentional in programming works by underrepresented voices in the wind band medium.

Concluding his third season with Delaware Winds is conductor and Music Director Michael D. Russo, who was a music instructor in New Jersey communities for 34 years.

As a performer, Russo has been a member of the trumpet sections of the New Jersey Wind Symphony and Delaware Winds. He is a founding member of the Imperial Brass Quintet, and he has performed throughout the United States as well as internationally.

In addition to Russo, Delaware Winds welcomes three guest conductors from within the ensemble: John Sopkanich, euphonium; Terry Alvey, trumpet; and Danielle Jones, trombone.

The Delaware Symphonic Winds program will begin with “Catapult,” an energetic, forward-driving selection by Jay Kennedy. This will be followed by “Sheltering Sky” by John Mackey. Its serene and simple presentation is a nostalgic portrait of time suspended.

The second half of the concert features “Summer Dances” by Brian Balmages. Exciting woodwind flourishes set the stage for the heroic main motive of the piece, stated by the brass section. This theme is woven throughout the work in contrasting settings, styles and colors. A beautiful, lyric chamber section gives way to a stately dance presented by the full ensemble. A powerful ending caps this dynamic piece.

The concert will conclude with a side-by-side experience featuring selected band students from area high schools in Delaware. The students are director approved and meet the criteria of personal musicianship, and high levels of commitment and musical aptitude.

To learn more, go to delawaresymphonicwinds.org.