University News

Stay Abreast of WIU Wind Ensemble's Brazil Adventures Via the Web

March 15, 2010

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MACOMB, IL - - For 37 Western Illinois University Symphonic Wind Ensemble students, Spring Break week (March 15-19) is an adventure in travel, new language and new culture. They are also enjoying a musical exchange, learning from professional Afro-Brazilian drummers and teaching marching band techniques to Brazilians.

The group has a full eight days (they left on March 12 and return March 21) of performing, exploring the sights and sounds of Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, presenting donated instruments to children and then giving the children their first musical lesson.

WIU Director of Bands and Symphonic Wind Ensemble Director Mike Fansler has arranged the exchange, with the assistance of Western alumnus (1976) and Alumni Achievement Award recipient Doug Adair, who lives and works in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.

Follow the Wind Ensemble throughout their Brazilian adventures and performances at
http://onthebeatbrazil.wordpress.com. The site includes a complete itinerary of the trip, photos, bios and blogs of students and staff. This site is added to daily by blog administrator Abby Rhodes. Video is also taken daily by University Television Production Coordinator Philip Weiss.


Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing