May 22, 2008

Bismarck, ND--The tradition of collaboration between the University of Mary and the Bismarck-Mandan community will be on display once again this summer. On Friday, July 4, Director of Bands and Brass Studies Dennis Gowen and two graduates of U-Mary will be featured in a performance of Leroy Anderson’s “Bugler’s Holiday” as special soloists with the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra.

Brian Hebert, ’93, Bismarck, ND, and Brianne Fuzesy, ’07, Whitefish, MT, will join Gowen in the concert under the stars on the mall of the North Dakota State Capitol building in Bismarck. “U.S. Marine Band trumpeter David Haglund was our featured soloist last July 4, and it was a thrill to not only work with him as conductor, but also to join him and another music graduate, Tony Fladeland, ’01, Bismarck, on ‘Bugler’s Holiday’ – always an audience favorite!” says Gowen, associate professor of music and recent interim artistic director and conductor for the symphony. “I’ve had a blast conducting the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony this past year, and a special highlight was July 4, 2007.”  

The performance usually gets underway around 9 p.m. and concludes with a breathtaking fireworks display that has become a very popular tradition in the Bis-Man community. Other current/former students of Gowen who will likely be on stage include: Luke and Jill (Haag) Keller, ’05, Columbia Falls, MT, and Bismarck (trombone, horn); Shawna Metzger, current student, Williston, ND (trumpet); Phil Voeller, ’07, Menoken, ND  (trombone); and Celia (Barthman) Schmaltz, ’02, Two Harbors, MN (horn), among others. Several current/former students on percussion and woodwinds will join in as well. “It’s always a treat to work with and feature such fine U-Mary students in events throughout the Bis-Man community,” Gowen says. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to get together to provide some great entertainment, while strengthening the bond between the university and our friends, colleagues, and supporters in the region.”   

For information about the July 4 performance or U-Mary’s music program, contact music@umary.edu.