April 14, 2008

 

Contacts:

MSU Billings Music Department, 657-2350
Dan Carter, University Relations, 657-2269

 

Concert will be last for retiring director and department chair Dr. Gary Behm

 

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — The Montana State University Billings Woodwind Choir and Symphonic Band will present its spring concert on Thursday, April 17 in Cisel Recital Hall. The concert will be conducted by Dr. Gary Behm, his last before his retirement.

 

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Ample parking is available in the Cisel parking lot just off of North 27th Street and to the east of Cisel Hall.

 

Behm will be completing a distinguished academic career of 29 years at Montana State University Billings next month when he retires. During his tenure, Behm served as an assistant, associate and a full professor and was chair of the MSU Billings Department of Music for 27 years. There will be a reception for him following this concert.

 

Behm received his Bachelor of Music degree from University of Iowa, his M.A. from University of Iowa and his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is well known for his many public performances as a clarinet recitalist both on campus and throughout the United States. Throughout his career, his teaching load has included theory; aural skills; band; jazz; instrumentation and arranging; conducting; form and analysis; woodwind performance and woodwind pedagogy.


He has also been instrumental in continuing performances of the MSU Billings pep band at Yellowjacket basketball games.

 

Behm’s last concert directing the Woodwind Choir and Symphonic Band will feature music by Grieg, Tchaikovsky, Bach, Mozart, Holst and Vaughan Williams. Members of the band and student hometowns are:

 

Ballantine: Chad McKinsey

Billings: Julie Methot; Darcie Mickleberry; Jaclyn Rooney; Amanda Hanson; Robert Marsh; Maggie Gregori; Jason Rhine; Karen Suchan; Jason Suchan; John Havener; Jeremy Dell

Froid:  Tyler Harris
Glendive: Justin Elliot Cross; Jenay Murphy
Hysham: Kael Hollowell
Roundup: Michael Kemper
Townsend: Codie Wahrman
Whitefish: Lisa Jellison
Worden: Tyson Reiter

Volborg: Stephanie Bidwell

 

For more information about the woodwind choir and symphonic band spring concert, please contact the MSU Billings Department of Music at 657-2350.