Lee University’s Wind Ensemble will perform its third concert of the season with special guest Dr. Adam Frey on Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 7:30 p.m. The performance will take place in Pangle Hall on Lee’s campus.  

The program will highlight compositions such as Michael Markowski’s “Joyride,” Travis Cross’ arrangement of Ralph Manuel’s “Alleluia,” and John Williams’ “Raiders March.” The ensemble will also perform a world premiere of a new composition, “The Quest,” by Dr. David Holsinger, Lee’s former Wind Ensemble director.  

The premiere performance will be conducted by Ashley Atkinson, director of bands at Lake Forrest Middle School. Holsinger will also join them on the program as guest conductor of Sousa’s “The Free Lance March.”  

“We are excited that Dr. Frey is performing with the Wind Ensemble on his personal arrangement of Puccini’s ‘Nessum Dorma’ and Peter Graham’s ‘Brilliant,’ along with an encore solo,” said Joel Denton, director of Wind Ensemble and instructor of music education at Lee. “It should be a rousing night of wind band music!”  

Frey travels the globe sharing his talents as a performer and advocate for live music. He has soloed with orchestras and bands all over the world, including the world famous Boston Pops, U.S. Army Orchestra, Atlanta Philharmonic, and Northeastern Symphony orchestras. He also performs regularly with wind bands and brass bands and has been a guest soloist at festivals around the globe. Frey has hosted the International Euphonium Tuba (IET) Festival at Emory University for 17 years and has over 120 works composed or specifically arranged for him. 

Frey received his doctor of musical arts from the University of Salford, his master of music in performance from the Royal Northern College of Music, and his bachelor of music performance from the University of Georgia.  

Prior to joining Lee’s School of Music, Denton served as director of bands at Ooltewah High School for 37 years. In 2015, he was awarded the John Phillip Sousa Foundation Legion of Honor for his contributions to the band, and the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts has honored him on three separate occasions. He is also an elected member of the East Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association (ETSBOA) Hall of Fame and the Tennessee Bandmasters Hall of Fame.  

Denton currently serves as the Tennessee state chair for the National Band Association and as the president-elect of the Tennessee Music Education Association. He is also a former president of the ETSBOA and the Tennessee Bandmasters Association.  

The Lee University Wind Ensemble is committed to the highest level of performance of instrumental ensemble literature for winds and percussion and performs for special concerts on Lee’s campus throughout the year.  

The concert is free, non-ticketed, and open to the public. It will also be available for livestream viewing at leeu.live/.  

For more information, contact Lee’s School of Music at (423) 614-8240 or email [email protected].