Friends University Bands

We are thrilled to welcome Miranda Tyler, a Goessel High School graduate, to the Friends University Band program this fall! Welcome to Friends U!

It's time to meet another new member of the Friends University Band Program! Transferring from Butler Community College, Michelle Young will join the clarinet section this fall. Welcome to Friends U.!

It's time to meet another new member of the Friends University Band Program! Coming from Campus High School in Haysville, Montana Baker will join the clarinet section this fall. Welcome to Friends U.!

We are pleased to welcome Levi Graves to Friends University! Levi is from Arkansas City High School and plans to major in jazz trumpet performance - welcome to Friends U.!

Pictured with Levi is Dr. Nick Schroeder - Director of Jazz Studies.

We are thrilled to welcome Faith Plume to the Friends University Band program this fall! Faith will graduate from Wichita South High School (Wichita Public Schools) and plans to major in history and political science at Friends University.

Pictured with Faith is South High band director Lisa Brown and Friends U. Director of Bands Dr. Knopp.

Welcome to Friends University, Alec Stone!
Alec is a soon-to-be graduate of Wichita Northwest High School and plans to major in trumpet performance at Friends U.
With his parents and the entire Northwest High School Band in attendance this morning, Dr. Schroeder and Dr. Knopp presented Alec with his scholarship.

Wichita Public Schools

Meet Alex Evans! Coming from Augusta High School, Alex will play clarinet in the Friends U. concert bands and saxophone in the jazz program. Alex plans to major in marketing. Welcome to Friends University!

Meet Kirsten Smart! Kirsten is an oboist from Andover Central High School and intends to major in English. Welcome to Friends University - we are thrilled to have you join our band program in August.

Andover Public Schools

Join one of our concert ensembles this fall! Auditions for Wind Ensemble and Campus Band take place the first two days of classes.

Complete audition information is available at the link below.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/10vAgyTAfmMykBAdPIwLKBJY4EM0kD8HaLwTUGi8XQ9Y/edit?usp=sharing

Meet Madison Arthur! Madison comes to Friends University from Butler Community College as a music education major with an instrumental emphasis.
Welcome to Friends U.!

Meet Marcos Martinez! Marcos comes to Friends University from Butler Community College as a music education major with an instrumental emphasis. Welcome to Friends U.!

Meet Gage Terrell! Gage comes to Friends University from Butler Community College as a music education major with an instrumental emphasis. Welcome to Friends U.!

It's time to meet more of our newest band recruits!
Meet Emaleigh Batson! Ema comes to Friends University from Butler Community College as a music education major with an instrumental emphasis. Welcome to Friends U.!

Meet Grace Lee! Grace is coming to Friends University from Halstead High School. As a flutist, Grace won the Tack Flute Foundation's 1st Place Award for Excellence, the Delano Chamber Player's 1st Place Award in the Young People's Solo Competition and serves as principal flute of the Wichita Symphony Youth Orchestras. Welcome to Friends U.!

Meet Luis Vega-Hernandez! Luis plays tuba and is from Public Schools North High School. He intends to major in pre-law. Welcome to Friends University!

Meet Rachel Widler! Rachel is a saxophonist from Berean Academy - Elbing KS who intends to major in mechanical engineering. Welcome to Friends University!

Over the next two weeks we are thrilled to introduce you to our newest band recruits - future Falcons who will begin their coursework at Friends U. this fall.
Please welcome Kaleb Boyce from Malcom High School (NE). Kaleb is a saxophonist who intends to major in music education. Welcome to Friends University!

Classes have concluded for the spring semester and finals begin tomorrow. Congratulations to our musicians for a wonderful spring semester!

We had an amazing two days with Dr. Chandler Wilson! So many THANK YOU'S to share: To Dr. Wilson for sharing your passion and music with us; To our consortium member schools and their directors - it was a blast making music with you; and to our corporate sponsor, Senseney Music, for making Dr. Wilson's visit and his new music a reality!

It's *WORLD PREMIERE* day! Join us at 7:30 PM tonight as the Friends University Concert Band and the Goddard High School Band perform Chandler Wilson's newest work for wind band, "Elevation".

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Chandler Wilson to campus for a two-day residency! Friends University and Goddard High School led a consortium to commission Dr. Wilson to write a new work for wind band. The new work, titled "Elevation," will receive its *world premiere* on Tuesday evening with Dr. Wilson conducting.

Dr. Wilson's residency begins this morning as he works with an honor band comprised of students from the consortium's member schools. Welcome to Kansas, Dr. Wilson!

Jazz Pedagogy students getting real-life experiences at Andover High School!

Jazz pedagogy students had the great opportunity to clinic the Andover high school jazz band. These cats sound amazing!

The Brass Band is excited to play for everyone this Sunday! It’s going to be a fun time kicking off the holiday season at Ceremony of Lights 2022

Percussionist, Sydnee Smith, will present her senior recital in the Black Box Theatre (Riney- D6) this Saturday, Nov. 12 at 5 p.m.
There will be a light reception to follow.

The Friends University Concert Band will present its second concert of the season on Monday evening, Nov. 7, 2022.

Conducted by Assistant Professor of Music Education and Director of Bands, Shawn M. Knopp, the concert will feature music by Wilson, Archer and Boysen. It will also spotlight student conductors and senior music education majors Micah Bolton and Sydnee Smith.

“We are excited to share a diverse program of music with our audience this fall,” said Knopp.

In addition to the concert band, the concert will include performances by the percussion ensemble, under the direction of Prof. Andy Slater, and the brass quintet under the direction of Dr. Nick Schroeder.

A highlight of the concert band’s repertoire will include a performance of Steve Danyew’s Into the Silent Land. This work was written by the composer to reflect on the tragedy which occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.

“As we approach 10 years since the horrific event at Sandy Hook, it is an honor to perform Steve Danyew’s composition for the purpose of remembering. As the composer says, ‘not forgetting that this happened, not forgetting these children and not forgetting the grief their families must feel.’”

The Band Concert will take place on Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Sebits Auditorium in Riney Fine Arts Center on the Friends University campus at 2100 W. University Ave., Wichita, Kan. Tickets for the concert are $6 for adults and $3 for seniors and students. They may be purchased online at friends.edu/fineartstickets or by calling the Fine Arts Box Office at 316-295-5677.

Why is our aardvark friend unhappy? Find out at tomorrow's free Tower Wind Quintet concert. Shawn Knopp, Director of Bands, will act as narrator on this fun piece by Paul Harris.

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Tower Wind Quintet
Oct. 25, 2022 - 7:30 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
Free, No tickets are required

Amy Hoffman (flute), Cindy Thompson (oboe), Chris Johnson (clarinet), Denise Kintzel (horn) and K***e Whittemore (bassoon)

Friends U Homecoming Parade 2022

Students have been working hard getting ready for their Band Concert on Monday!

Take a listen to the Eisenhower Centennial. It’s a march written for the centennial celebration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s birth. It was first performed in 1990 by the 312th Army Reserve Band in Abilene, Ks.

Hear it in person on Monday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Allison Traditional Magnet Middle School.
Tickets ➡️ friends.edu/fineartstickets