UConn Marching Band to Perform with Hartford Symphony Orchestra

The University of Connecticut Marching Band will return to Hartford once again to help the Hartford Symphony Orchestra kickoff their 2012-2013 season at Picnic in The Park. The free concert will take place this Saturday, September 29, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. in Bushnell Park in downtown Hartford.

The UCMB performed with the HSO for the first time last year and was invited to return in 2012. HSO Director Carolyn Kuan said the band “sounded excellent and looked stunning” at last year’s concert. “Having [the UCMB] there not only made the concert experience special, but it was thrilling and electrifying.”

 “For this program, I want to give the Greater Hartford community a sneak peak of all that the HSO has to offer this season. From acrobats and electric guitar to marching bands and Harry Potter to Carmen and Sweet Caroline, this is going to be a concert for families, friends, and music fans of all ages,” said Kuan.

This free, outdoor concert will showcase the many musical styles of the HSO, including classical works by Mendelssohn, Mahler, Copland, and Mozart as well as many other performing arts groups including the UCMB. The concert is part of EnvisionFest Hartford, a one-day, free, city-wide festival on September 29th, and a unique opportunity for people of all ages to discover and celebrate the capital city’s transformation. The festival will feature hundreds of live entertainment and hands-on activities, from concerts and dramatic performances on six stages, to free admission to more than eight museums, landmark building tours, and lawn games in Bushnell Park.

Members of the band are very excited to perform in a less than typical environment for a marching band. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to give our members a different performing experience and to develop our image with a very different group of people than our athletic fans,” says Dr. David Mills, Director of Bands at The University of Connecticut. The performance will include 100 brass players and the UConn Drumline.

Marking its 69th Season in 2012-2013, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra is the second largest orchestra in New England and is widely recognized as one of America’s leading regional orchestras. Led by Music Director Carolyn Kuan, the HSO presents more than 100 concerts annually.