Metamorphosis: A Season Finale of Transformation and Renewal
Friday, May 8, 2026 | 7:30 PM | King Center
Every ending is also a beginning. Metamorphosis closes the Colorado Wind Ensemble’s season with a program devoted to change, reinvention, and artistic evolution. From composers redefining their own musical voices to works that transform earlier material into something entirely new, this concert celebrates the power of music to grow, adapt, and renew.
Aegean Festival Overture – Andreas Makris, arr. Bader
Inspired by Greek folk traditions, Aegean Festival Overture bursts with rhythmic vitality and Mediterranean color. Makris blends dance-like energy with sweeping lyricism, creating a work that feels both celebratory and deeply rooted in cultural heritage
Jazz Suite No. 2 – Dmitri Shostakovich, arr. de Meij
Shostakovich’s Jazz Suite No. 2 reveals a playful and charming side of a composer often associated with intensity and political tension. In Johan de Meij’s vibrant wind band arrangement, the suite sparkles with wit, elegance, and rhythmic flair. Waltzes, marches, and dances unfold with cinematic charm, showing how Shostakovich transformed popular styles into sophisticated art music.
Commando March – Samuel Barber
Samuel Barber’s Commando March holds a special place in wind band history as his first work written exclusively for band. Bold, confident, and unmistakably American, the march reflects Barber’s gift for melodic strength and rhythmic drive. It represents a moment of transformation in his own career and stands as a symbol of the wind band’s growing recognition as a serious artistic medium.
Symphonic Metamorphosis – Paul Hindemith, arr. Wilson
The program culminates with Hindemith’s monumental Symphonic Metamorphosis, a masterwork of transformation in every sense. Built from themes by Carl Maria von Weber, Hindemith reshapes familiar melodies into a brilliant, modern symphonic statement. Each movement reinvents its source material with bold orchestration, rhythmic intensity, and architectural brilliance, demonstrating how music can evolve while honoring its origins.
🎟️ Join Us!
Join the Colorado Wind Ensemble for a season finale that looks forward while honoring the past, and experience a musical journey shaped by change, imagination, and renewal.
🗓️ Friday, May 8, 2026
🕢 7:30 PM
📍 King Center Concert Hall, Denver