Savannah Wind Symphony Pops Concert continues to highlight community ensemble

The Savannah Wind Symphony is looking for a new music director during a period of transition, and music lovers are reaping the benefit from a series of exciting concerts led by different conductors up for the position.

“I’d hate to look at it as a competition,” said conductor David Elliott, who is presenting a Pops concert this Sunday. “We’ve had a lot of different people direct the band. We have several band directors from the area that are in the band, so lots of competent people that could do the job. The thing is we need a leader. You can’t have too many cooks in the kitchen, so we have to pick out a leader. I think people will still have a chance to conduct and do what they want to do with the ensemble.”

Symphony aims to fill leadership vacancy

When longtime and beloved conductor Mark Johnson passed away in 2022, Savannah Wind Symphony, formally known as Armstrong Community Band, separated from the Georgia Southern University School of Music and became a non-profit.

“When Mark Johnson was doing it, then everything was set for us because it was an extension of the School of Music,” explained Elliott. “The music majors all played in the Savannah Winds on Monday night to get a large ensemble experience. There might be 20 music majors, but they’re sitting in a band of 70 or 80, and that’s a whole different experience.”

Savannah Wind Symphony is a high-quality volunteer community ensemble with around 60 members comprised of everyone from college students to adults of every age from many professions or retirement. Elliott, who is the Jazz Band Director at Savannah Country Day School, also plays trombone in the Savannah Jazz Orchestra. Elliott used to play in a trombone quartet with Mark Johnson and has been a player in Savannah Wind Orchestra for 12 years.

Savanah Country Day music director enjoys 'adult orchestra'

Elliott’s experience with Savannah Wind Symphony has been particularly rewarding.

“It’s an adult orchestra, so that’s nice, but the big difference is we rehearse every week,” said Elliott. “We get together and actually work together and get to know each other and get to know the music more. With the Savanna Jazz Orchestra it’s, ‘We have a gig next Wednesday. Be there and we’ll play it.’ Not a lot of rehearsing goes on. With Savannah Wind Symphony we get together and spend six weeks together and put on a concert. It makes it a little more intimate and friendly and you get to know the band a whole lot better.”

For this week’s Pops Concert, Elliott has put together a fun program of popular music with the theme of travel, featuring a wide variety of pieces conveying a sense of movement or going someplace. Works include “Slidin’ Down the Mississippi, A Musical Excursion for Jazz Trombone and Concert Band,” “Sailing with Whales,” “Travelin’ Music,” and scores from films Catch Me if You Can (featuring alto sax), Lawrence of Arabia, and O Brother, Where Art Thou. “High Flight,” a piece of music about a World War II pilot features a poetry recitation. There promises to be something for all ages to enjoy, so bring the whole family.

“It’s a wide variety so hopefully everybody will have a good time,” said Elliott.

Now that Savannah Wind Symphony is operating as a non-profit and is no longer reliant on Georgia Southern University it is more important than ever that the music loving community continues to support the ensemble. Savannah Wind Symphony has been an important part of the music community since it formed in 1977, and it would be wonderful for it to continue to be a home for musicians for another 50 years.

“Without the help of the university we’re entirely on our own and trying to keep this thing going, because we want to keep playing,” said Elliott. “So far, it’s going pretty well.”

If You Go >>

What: Savannah Wind Symphony Pops Concert 2024

When: 3 p.m., April 28

Where: Georgia Southern University, Armstrong campus Fine Arts Auditorium, 11935 Abercorn St.

Cost: $10-20

Info: savannahwindsymphony.com

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah Wind Symphony's concerts will choose new director