The David R. Gillingham piece “Concerto for Marimba and Percussion Orchestra” will be performed by Wu and the SAU Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Michael Britt, in addition to a solo recital. The evening also features an open master class for high school students at 5:30 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public.

The open house will include several performances by members of the band as well as comments from Southern Arkansas University President Dr. David Rankin.

Faculty and students have been practicing and holding rehearsals in the 14,377 square-foot band hall since January. J.P. Wilson, director of bands, anticipates growing opportunities to highlight his program and promote music education in the region.

“We are just excited that we have enough room to be able to invite other schools to host competitions. We’ve got two huge rooms and the smaller room is bigger than our old space was. That’s amazing,” Wilson said.

The public is invited to attend this event at the new band hall located behind Dolph Camp Hall, facing the pond to the north of the University Village.

Visitors may participate in a drawing to receive a free copy of T. T. Tyler Thompson’s definitive history, Horns Up!! College Bands of the Arkansas Heartland.

The schedule of the open house includes:
• 1 p.m. clarinet quartet in hallway
• 1:30 p.m. jazz band in secondary rehearsal room
• 2 p.m. comments by Dr. Rankin
• 2:15 p.m. wind ensemble in primary rehearsal room
• 3 p.m. percussion ensemble in primary rehearsal room
• 3:30 p.m. concert band in primary rehearsal room

For more information, contact the Dean of Liberal and Performing Arts, Southern Arkansas University, 870-235-4200.

The AIB is held in conjunction with the Arkansas All-State convention for high school musicians at the Arkansas Music Conference in Hot Springs, Feb. 14-17.

SAU students participating in the event include Jerry Crawley, a junior music education major from Teague, Texas; Manchusa Loungsangroong, a freshman music major from Bangkok, Thailand; Ashley Martin, a junior early education major from Wasilla, Alaska.; Rachel O’Dell, a sophomore music education major from Atlanta, Texas; Jimmy Rosendo, a sophomore music major from Irving, Texas; Jon Ed Rowe, a senior computer information systems and management double major from Magnolia; Lance Taylor, a junior computer information systems major from Magnolia; Cody Sturdivant, a sophomore music major from Groesbeck, Texas; Al Torres, a senior music education and print journalism double major from Corrigan, Texas; Jennifer Turner a junior music education major from Texarkana; and Josh Withem, a freshman music major from Fort Worth, Texas.

These students, along with musicians from other Arkansas universities, will rehearse and perform with renowned composer and clinician, Samuel R. Hazo.

The Wind Ensemble, conducted by J.P. Wilson, will perform a brief concert of standard and contemporary wind band literature.

The concert is free and open to the public.

On Wednesday, Feb. 14, 11 students from the ensemble will participate in the Arkansas Intercollegiate Band. This honor band consists of college students from every university in Arkansas. The group performs in conjunction with the Arkansas All State Music Conference in Hot Springs.

The concert is free and open to the public.

The entire University community has embraced helping those who have lost everything.

For two days, the University has collected towels, rags, toiletries, sheets, pillows, food, water, books, toys, first aid supplies, diapers, and much more. Everyone from students, faculty, staff, community members, churches, and local businesses have contributed items to help the evacuees.

These items will be distributed to approximately 240 people who will be housed in Talbot Hall on the University campus. All items that are not used by those on campus will be sent down south to those who need them.

“I am overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity and the kindness and compassion they have shown” said Dr. Donna Allen, vice president for student affairs at SAU. “Their hard work has made me proud to work here.”

According to Sandra Smith, director of the Residential College and Mule.Org, student organizations will meet soon to organize events and programs for those staying on campus.

“We will continue to support these people the entire time they are on our campus,” she said.

Members of the SAU marching band have collected toys to be given away to the kids during a hamburger cookout on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Eastside Park.

“We wanted to do a little something for the kids,” said J.P. Wilson, director of bands at SAU. “We want to get the families out of their hotel rooms and offer them a good time.”

SAU faculty and staff will cook hamburgers and hot dogs and will have chips, drinks, and cookies.

Kids will also have an opportunity to get their faces painted, ride ponies, and play games.

“It was incredible,” said Jeff Kee, director of bands at Camden Fairview and a graduate of Southern Arkansas University. “It was quite an undertaking and a great experience for everyone.”

After a highly competitive selection process, Kee and his band were chosen by a committee to participate in the historic event.

“We were required to send recordings of the band and a video tape,” said Kee. “I also had to go through a very intense interview.”

In honor of Camden Fairview being the only band from Arkansas asked to march in the parade, President George W. Bush asked Arkansas First Lady Janet Huckabee to sit with him when the band passed by the grandstand.

According to Kee, it was a very stressful time for everyone involved.

“It was emotionally draining,” said Kee. “We had to be at the Pentagon at 10 a.m. even though the parade didn’t begin until 2:30 p.m. We were put through very intense security checks.”

While in Washington, D.C., the group was able to attend a reception hosted by Lockheed-Martin and also had the opportunity to take a dinner cruise.

“We had a lot of neat experiences while on the trip,” said Kee.

During the parade, the group performed a song especially written for the inaugural parade by an Arkansas composer and arranger.

Kee received his B.M.E. from SAU in December 1996 and is in his seventh year of teaching at Camden Fairview. His wife, Cynthia, is also a graduate of SAU and teaches elementary music at Camden Fairview. Their 12-year-old daughter Allison is a member of the band.

He is a 1992 graduate of Magnolia High School and the son of Butch and Carol Kee.