Sierra Nevada Winds rolls into Y-S

The Sierra Nevada Winds Orchestra promises "a wide variety of music" when it comes to Yuba City today for its annual concert.

That's according to Margaret Wegner, a clarinetist in the orchestra and board member.

"There's a little something for everyone (at the concert)," she said. "Our conductor, William 'Bill' Hill, enjoys challenging us and having us play music with a story."

The orchestra will perform many pieces at today's concert that demonstrate this approach. Compositions range from marches to ballads to jazz to hymns.

Among them is "Bonaparte" by Otto Schwarz, a piece centered around the life of Napoleon Bonaparte. Because it centers around the French emperor's conquests in battle, the piece uses "tremendous percussion," Wegner said, including bells, chimes and cannons.

Also among the pieces is "American Hymnsong Suite" by Dwayne S. Milburn, a composition based on hymns; the jazz piece "A Weekend in New York"; Ralph Ford's "Beyond Whistler"; and David R. Gillingham's "The Echo Never Fades."

The concert will also mark the world premiere of Rocklin composer Thomas Candlish's "Bandsmen of the West."

All pieces the orchestra performs were composed after 2000, Wegner said. "It's the best of the bunch of the newer composers."

The Sierra Nevada Winds Orchestra is based out of Roseville and is now in its 20th year. The orchestra began with only 15 musicians, but has since expanded to 45.

For the past 14 years, the orchestra has performed in Yuba City the weekend before Thanksgiving.

"We have a really exciting group (of musicians), and audiences have been very enthusiastic in Yuba City," Wegner said.

In addition, the group also visits schools to show that music can be a lifelong occupation or hobby. On Tuesday, members of the orchestra visited area schools.

"This is an evening of outstanding music," Wegner said. "After rehearsals, we feel energized, and the audience will feel the same way after the concert."