This show will feature dancers from TWDC, children from Easter Seals dancing with the company, and guest artist Dan Fisher, who was an original company member and danced with the Company until 2004.

The show will include a tribute to Broadway’s comedies and tragedies; “Roots” (using music that was the forerunner of rock and roll); “Game On” (sports related with each piece having a different sports theme such as football, baseball, skiing, skating, and boxing); “I Will Remember You” (the story of a lung cancer patient coping with the harsh realities of the disease); “The Circle of Life” (using the Lion King Disney music for some really fun dance); and “The World We Live In” (about our care of the planet).

TWDC takes pride in the fact that its shows are always suitable for families, are affordable, have audience participation and offer a wide variety of dance all in the same show.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors and are available at the ICC Box Office, (309)694-5136. Easter Seals will receive a $1 donation for each ticket sold.

A reception following the April 27 performance is open to the public, and a silent auction will be conducted throughout the run of the show.

       “The Earle of Oxford’s March” from Gordon Jacob’s William Byrd Suite will open this concert. It is taken from a collection of keyboard pieces which captures the great dignity of a distinguished personage. Percy Grainger’s is one of music’s most original voices and his compositions, especially his arrangements of folksong, include some of the world’s most well-loved pieces. The concert will feature “Blithe Bells” and “Green Bushes”. “Blithe Bells” is a free ramble on Bach’s aria ‘Sheep may graze in safety when a goodly shepherd watches o’er them’ from a secular cantata. The ramble is colored by the thought that Bach, in writing the melody in thirds that opens and closes the number, may have aimed at giving a hint of the sound of sheep bells. “Green Bushes”, a Passacaglia, is one of Grainger’s most accomplished works and is based on a modal English folk-song incorporating one version collected by himself in Lincolnshire and another from Somerset found by Cecil Sharp. Though the tune is of English origin it has also been found in Ireland and America.

       Philip Sparke’s “Theatre Music” was commissioned for the “Musikpreis Grenchen 1990”, a contest for new music in Switzerland, The suite is in three movements which each pay tribute to the stage; OVERTURE is a brisk and lively movement, full of fun; ENTR’ACTE a tender interlude and FINALE a romp for the whole band. Enigma Variations, opus 36, were written by Edward Elgar for orchestra in 1899 as a dedication to his friends who were pictured in each of the variations. It is fourteen variations that belong to a period of time in which his style placed him in the front ranks of British composers. Variations sur un theme de Rossini written by Frederic Chopin, arranged by David Vroman will be the featured selection performed by our flute soloist, Denise Cooksey.

       Selections to complete the concert program will include “Selections from My Fair Lady”, arr. Robert Russell Bennett, “Whirr, Whirr, Whirr!” by Ralph Hultgren and “Fantasia on the Dargason” from Second Suite for Military Band in F composed by Gustav Holst.

       Joseph Manfredo is an Associate Professor of Music for the School of Music at the Illinois State University. At ISU, Manfredo is the Coordinator of Music Education and teaches undergraduate courses in instrumental music education. In addition, he is coordinator of the student teaching program.

       Originally from Calumet City, Illinois, Manfredo received a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Eastern Illinois University, where he studied clarinet with Dr. Earl Boyd and piano with Dr. Catherine Smith. His graduate studies included a Master of Arts Degree in Instrumental Conducting from EIU and a Doctorate of Music Education from the University of Illinois. During his doctoral residency, Manfredo was awarded the band conducting internship to study with the legendary Dr. Harry Begian. In addition, his doctoral dissertation was awarded the Fritz Thelan Prize by the International Society for the Promotion and Investigation of Wind Music (IGEB) in 1994. The Thelan Prize was for “the outstanding American doctoral dissertation on the wind band, 1990 – 1994”.

       Dr. Manfredo is in constant demand as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. He has conducted various All-State Bands and Honor Bands throughout the mid-west and southeast United States. In addition, he has presented lectures and clinics at the Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic, Music Educators National Conference national conference, College Band Directors National Association national conference, National Band Association national conference, Instrumental Music Teacher Educators Biennual Colloquium, and the Conn-Selmer Institute. He has made presentations at state music conferences in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, and Texas, and internationally in Shanghai China, Mainz Germany, Echternach, Luxembourg, Graz Austria and in various cities throughout Brazil.

       Manfredo has published journal articles in the Groves Dictionary of Music, Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, Journal of Band Research, Music Educators Journal, Journal of Music Teacher Education, The Instrumentalist, Illinois Music Educators Journal, and the Alta Musica series. In addition, he was asked to write The Conductor’s Manual for the Essentials of Musicianship series published by Hal Leonard. Dr. Manfredo serves as the chief editor of the MittBlatt, one of the publications for IGEB, the International Society for the Promotion and Investigation of Wind Music.

       Presently, he is a Vice-President for the Illinois Music Educators Association in which he is head of the Music Teacher Education Division. Manfredo was recently appointed chair of the IMEA committee for teacher evaluation. In addition, he serves as the Illinois representative for the North Central Division of the Society for Music Teacher Education.

       Denise Cooksey is currently adjunct flute instructor at Illinois Central College and Knox College. She is the director and founder of the Knox College Flute Choir, which is in its fourth year. Denise maintains a private flute studio, teaching students of all ages. She has played in the Peoria Symphony for over 30 years, as well as the Prairie Wind Ensemble and the Peoria Municipal Band. She has soloed with the latter two groups numerous times. She is one of the original members of the St. Martin Chamber Players and plays with the recently resurrected Ivy Trio.

       Denise has performed at the National Flute Association National Convention as well as Merkin Hall in New York City. She has a CD distributed by Flute World entitled, Hymns, Traditional, AND…. The music is from the Faithful Flutist, running the gamut of traditional to jazzy.

       In addition to her music, Denise is a fitness instructor at 5 Points Washington, Riverplex, and ICC CougarPlex. In addition to teaching fitness classes Denise has a passion for triathlons. She has completed one full Ironman, and had the opportunity to compete in a world triathlon on the USA triathlon team in her age group in Beijing, China this past fall. She is married to Randy Cooksey of 25 “wonderful years!” They have 3 step-children, 4 grandchildren, and 11 cats.

       The PWE has a rich history owed to its founder, Conductor Emeritus Dr. Donald Lewellen, who created the ensemble in 1977. Dr. Lewellen led the ensemble until his retirement in 2003. Mr. Robert Sheldon served as conductor of the Prairie Wind Ensemble until his departure in 2010 due to job responsibilities as conductor, composer, clinician and Concert Band Editor for the Alfred Publishing Company. Dr. Manfredo was announced as new Music Director this past January.

       The ensemble membership represents many professional backgrounds. Approximately 70% of members are current or retired professional music educators. The remaining 30% represent a diverse set of occupations including recording technician, nurse, educator, anesthesiologist, information technologist, electronics technician, engineer, attorney, homemaker, electrician, retail manager, and project manager. Members are from Knoxville, Canton, Macomb, Bloomington, Normal, Peoria Heights, Washington, North Pekin, Marquette Heights, Avon, Morton, Cuba, Galesburg, Chillicothe, Dunlap, Glasford, Mapleton, Bartonville, Metamora, Germantown Hills, Marseilles, Farmington, Elmwood as well as Peoria, East Peoria and Morton.

       Tickets are $8 per concert, $6 for students and seniors. Children under 12 are free. Tickets may be purchased through the Illinois Central College Performing Arts Center by phone (309-694-5136) or in person. There is limited availability at the door the day of the performance.

       Further information, pictures, contacts and updates for the ensemble can be found on the Prairie Wind Ensemble website, www.prairiewindensemble.com.

       The afternoon will include classes in ballet (Vaganova technique), jazz, tap, hip hop, and modern, a tour of the Performing Arts Center, a performance by the TazWood Dance Company (an in-residence company at the college), information about the ICC dance program and refreshments.

       This fun afternoon is free to those 14 years of age and older with or without previous dance experience.

       Register by phoning Mary Dexter at (309) 367-4644.