the wind ensemble and symphonic band

The Lawrence University Wind Ensemble is selected from the top wind and percussion students in the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. Five to seven concerts are performed on and off campus throughout the academic year, frequently with guest soloists, conductors and composers. Their repertoire consists of the finest wind music from Bach to major contemporary composers and occasional works by talented Lawrence students. The ensemble has performed at regional and national conventions and has enjoyed a close association with many American composers. Several acclaimed recordings have been produced with the group, with the latest issued in spring 2005. The Lawrence University Wind Ensemble is determined to bring its audiences the finest artistic repertoire from all musical periods, cultures and styles.

The Symphonic Band, also an auditioned ensemble, performs three to four concerts per year. Recent repertoire performed by this ensemble includes the Berlioz Symphonie funébre et triomphale, Arnold/Paynter Tam O'Shanter and Adam Gorb's Dances from Crete. The Symphonic Band is over 75% music majors but still provides a musical outlet for students from a broad range of majors.

Conductor

  • Andrew Mast

    Associate Professor of Music

    Andrew Mast is Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, the position he has held since the fall of 2004. He conducts the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band while teaching courses in band history, conducting and music education. Prior to his appointment at Lawrence, he was Director of Bands at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa where he was selected as the Outstanding Faculty member for the 2003-2004 year. There he conducted the Symphonic Band and University/Community Orchestra, taught conducting and music education classes and served as department chair. He also conducted the Quad City Wind Ensemble and founded the Quad City Area Youth Wind Symphony.

    In May of 2006 he was a guest conductor for the Pilsen Conservatory in the Czech Republic and bands under his direction have appeared at several conferences. During the summers of 2002-04 he was on the conducting faculty of the Interlochen Arts Camp. He received his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Band Conducting from the University of Iowa in May of 2000 where his mentor was Dr. Myron Welch. His dissertation was "The History of the Mason City (Iowa) Community and High School Bands, 1920-1999."

    Prior to pursuing doctoral work, Mast was Director of Bands at Shakopee High School in Shakopee, Minnesota. During this time he received his Master of Arts degree in Music Education from the University of Minnesota where he worked with Craig Kirchhoff and Paul Haack. His master's thesis compared the effects of competitive and non-competitive chair placement procedures in school bands. Prior teaching assignments include instrumental music in grades 5-12 in the Urbandale and Madrid, Iowa, schools. He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Iowa in 1989.

    Dr. Mast's professional affiliations include the College Band Director's National Association, National Band Association, Music Educator's National Conference, Iowa Bandmaster’s Association and the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles. He is the founder and president of the Vincent Persichetti Society. He has made scholarly contributions to The Instrumentalist, Journal of Band Research, the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series and The Annals of Iowa. He and his wife Melissa have a son Sam and a daughter Sophie.

    Contact by e-mail: andrew.mast@lawrence.edu

The Ensemble