Spotlight on Historic American Music at Susquehanna University - Day 5

Directed by Rick Benjamin

This three day celebration includes performances and workshops by leading professional musicians and the students and faculty of the Department of Music at Susquehanna University.

Saturday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m. -  

Concluding the Spotlight on Historic American Music series, the Susquehanna University Symphonic Band under the direction of Eric Hinton, department head and professor of music at Susquehanna, will present a concert featuring Harry L. Alford’s "Roll ‘Em Up" with percussion soloist John Leister. The remainder of the concert traces the evolution of American wind band repertoire from the nation’s Bicentennial in 1976 to the present day.

Leister has performed with the American Ballet Theater Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Paragon Ragtime Orchestra and as drummer for six Broadway musicals. He has played in orchestras behind artists such as Paul McCartney, Metallica, The Moody Blues, Bruce Springsteen, Sting and James Taylor. Leister is a graduate of The Juilliard School, University of Illinois and Rutgers University.

The Spotlight on Historic American Music is a series of performances, conversations and explorations that connect today’s musicians with America’s rich musical past. This campus-centered series sustains the momentum of Susquehanna’s biannual Symposium on Historic American Music, serving as a bridge between the 2025 event and upcoming 2027 gathering, which in additional to musical performances will also include an academic symposia.

The event will take place in Stetansky Concert Hall in the Cuninghamm Center for Music & Art.