Laurier Music 50th Anniversary Gala

March 11, 2026

Saturday, March 21, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 22, 2026, 3 p.m.
Begins in Maureen Forrester Recital Hall

Featuring:
Laurier Wind Orchestra: Dr. Leah McGray, conductor
Laurier Singers, Laurier Concert Choir: Dr. Tracy Wong, conductor
Laurier Symphony Orchestra: Dr. Cynthia Johnston Turner, conductor
Laurier Jazz Orchestra: Adrean Farrugia, conductor

We ask that patrons take photos only during intermission and/or after the show and do not record audio or video unless otherwise announced at the beginning of the show.

Program

Fanfare for the Common Man by Aaron Copland (1900-1990)
Performed by members of the Laurier Symphony Orchestra and Laurier Wind Orchestra brass and percussion sections

Laurier Wind Orchestra

First Suite in E flat by Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
I. Chaconne

Fnugg Blue by Øystein Baadsvik (b. 1966)
Dr. Jonathan Rowsell, tuba

Un Cafecito by Dennis Llinás (b. 1980)

Laurier Singers

Nothing Gold Can Stay from Frost Sequence by Stephanie Martin** (b. 1962)

Light Thine Eyes from Elijah, Op. 70 by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

In the Merry Month of May by Henry Youll (fl. 1608)

Stand in That River by Moira Smiley (b. 1976)

Norwegian Trilogy arr. Margaret King*
I. God morgen Ola Reppom
II. Ned i vester soli glader – Auri Fell, solo
III. Ekom gjekk på voll og slo

Intermission

O Canada by Calixa Lavalée* (1842-1891), arr. Allan Gilliland* (b. 1965)

Laurier Symphony Orchestra

Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80 by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Concert Choir

Ad Astra by Jacob Narverud (b. 1986)

Combined Choirs

Elements by Katerina Gimon** (b. 1993)
I. Earth
II. Air
III. Fire
IV. Water

High Flight by John Estacio** (b. 1966)

Laurier We’ll Praise Thee Ever by Maxwell A. McGee**, arr. Isaac Page** (b. 1996)

Laurier Jazz Orchestra

Seafever composed and arranged by Christine Jensen (b. 1970)

The Yellow Jacket by Shaun Martin (b. 1978), arr. Andrew Jones*

*Canadian composer
**Canadian composer and Laurier Alumni

Program Notes

Land Acknowledgement

We would like to acknowledge that Wilfrid Laurier University and its campuses are located on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe (Anish-nah-bay) and Haudenosaunee (Hoe-den-no-show-nee) peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples and symbolizes the agreement to share, protect our resources and not to engage in conflict. From the Haldimand Proclamation of Oct. 25, 1784 this territory is described as: “six miles deep from each side of the river (Grand River) beginning at Lake Erie and extending in the proportion to the Head of said river, which them and their posterity are to enjoy forever.” The proclamation was signed by the British wit​h their allies, the Six Nations, after the American Revolution. Despite being the largest reserve demographically in Canada, those nations now reside on less than five percent of this original territory.