The highlights of the Arizona-themed concert will be “Arizona Centennial Overture,” a work commissioned by the Arizona Commission on the Arts for the statewide celebration, and the winners of the second AWS small ensemble contest for high school students.

“Arizona Centennial Overture” pays tribute to the farmers and miners who first came to Arizona seeking a better life, to the Native American cultures that have touched us all, and the Hispanic influence this state.

High school musician ensembles audition the week before this concert and will perform their best numbers in a variety of genres for your listening pleasure. With the help of funding from Friends of Tempe Center for the Arts and the Arizona Commission on the Arts, these groups will compete for performance incentives. The Arizona Wind Symphony’s first small-ensemble contest was very highly received last year. This year’s should be even more exciting! Read more