The Fourth Annual Band-A-Rama Scholarship Benefit Spectacular, featuring the Virginia Tech Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and The Marching Virginians, will take place on Friday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. in Burruss Auditorium located on the Virginia Tech Campus.

The event marks the first concert of the school year for both the Jazz Ensemble and Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the only indoor concert played by The Marching Virginians.

The Jazz Ensemble will perform selections by a wide variety of writers ranging from Cole Porter to Alan Faust and Dan Gailey, former Virginia Tech faculty member James Miley, and contemporary jazz luminary Maria Schneider. The Jazz Ensemble is led by John Adler, assistant professor of trumpet and jazz studies at Virginia Tech.

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble follows with a recent work for large brass ensemble by Brian Balmages, Ralph Vaughan Williams's band classic "Toccata Marziale," a transcription of "Nimrod" from the Enigma Variations of Edward Elgar, a recent work for wind ensemble by Travis J. Cross called "Everlasting Light," and the classic wind band transcription of Dmitri Shostakovich's "Festive Overture." The Symphonic Wind Ensemble is under the direction of Cross, assistant professor of music at Virginia Tech.

The Marching Virginians will play music from their fall halftime shows, as well as a collection of spirit tunes and Virginia Tech favorites. The Marching Virginians are directed by David McKee and Tony Marinello and led by student drum majors Alex Schmitt and Jan Michael San Pedro.

General admission tickets are $10, and student/senior tickets are $5. Tickets will be available at the door one hour prior to performance time.

Free parking is available around the Drillfield with a visitor's pass from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. No pass is necessary on the Drillfield after 8 p.m. or on weekends. Parking is also available in Perry Street Lot 1, 3, 4 and 6 near Prices Fork Road. Find more parking information online or call (540) 231-3200.

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