Morris Campus News and Events

Symphonic Winds perform in Nassau, Bahamas

Posted by Bekah Deutl '08, Anoka on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007

The University of Minnesota, Morris Symphonic Winds, consisting of wind and percussion instruments, traveled to the Caribbean as this year’s annual tour destination. The group boarded a bus bound for Florida at 2 a.m. on January 5, 2007. They arrived in Port Canaveral, Florida, and boarded the MS Elation the next day for a six-day Caribbean cruise.

While on tour, the UMM Symphonic Winds performed in the ship’s Mikado Lounge and in Hairbraiders Square in Nassau, Bahamas, playing sea-themed pieces such as Of Sailors and Whales by William Francis McBeth. The ship also visited ports in Grand Turk and Half Moon Cay.

Giving the students opportunities to play both on land and on sea was a treasured experience. Martin Seggelke, assistant professor of music, states: “Exposing students to different cultures and locations as well as playing in different environments was wonderful.”

“It was a great opportunity to bond with fellow band members, create long-lasting friendships, and make UMM known to the global community,” says Kate Raymond ’08, Mankato, clarinetist and music education and Spanish education major.

Dan Connolly ’09, St. Paul, percussionist, adds: “As a music education major, it gave me other ways to play in different places, in another part of the world.” He adds, laughing: “The food on the ship was amazing, things I’ve never had before. It was the best food in the world!”

For more information on Symphonic Winds, including upcoming performances on February 4, March 4, April 24, April 29, and May 3, click here.



From left, Sitting: Rochelle Reiss ’09 Maple Grove, Angela Colombage ’08, Maharagama City, Sri Lanka, Sarah Duffy ’10, Roseville, Michelle Bielat ’10, Sartell, Tricia Johnson ’10, Monticello, Kneeling: Angela Seydlitz-Dreger ’10, Sauk Centre, Eva Wood ’10, Eagle Bend, Elizabeth Waller ’09, Lemmon, S. D., Sarah Tolbert ’09, Fridley, Kate Raymond ’08, Mankato, Jackie Venable ’08, Redwood Falls, Allison Haas ’09, Hartland, Wis., Sara Friedrichs ’08, Apple Valley, Jeremy Bleichner ’10, Eagan, Standing: Tim Carlson ’07, Dassel, Allisen Schlick ’10, Maple Grove, Andrew Bowe ’09, Eagle Lake, Sabrina Schaefer ’09, Belle Plain, Katie Hartwig ’09, New Ulm, Daniel Connolly ’09, St. Paul, Lacee Heald ’07, Zimmerman, Kevin Johnson ’09, Madison Lake, Daniel Kmetz ’10, Minneapolis, Nolan Hauta ’07, Cook, Justin Kemppainen ’09, Spicer, Brian Kotila ’07, Cokato, Paul Eveslage ’10, Burnsville, James Jarvie ’09, Cokato, Matthew Schiebe ’10, Mound, Alex Dalton ’09, Winona, Nate Pfeifle ’10, Cokato, Sten Johnson ’10, St. Paul, Dani Larson ’09, Little Falls, Christopher Larson ’10, Eagan, Kati Hamlin ’09, Springfield, Brandon Gerads ’10, Monticello, Nathan Dahlberg ’10, Valley City, N. D., Martin Seggelke, assistant professor of music