Premiere of Special Work to Highlight Concert Wind Ensemble Performance

MANSFIELD, PA— The Mansfield University Concert Wind Ensemble , directed by Adam Brennan, will perform on Sunday, November 20, 2:30 p.m. in Steadman Theatre.
The concert is free and open to the public. Donations of canned goods and paper products for area food pantries will be collected.
Also, patrons will have the opportunity to donate to MU Bands to support their travel to London, England to perform at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
The concert will feature the world premiere of a new work for wind ensemble written by Brennan. The work, Malachi: A Celebration of a Special Life, was written to honor a local family, Shelly and Paul Showers, their children, and especially their adopted special needs son, Malachi.
“Malachi was born with severe brain damage after his birth mother attempted twice to self-abort the child,” Brennan said. “When the child was born with severe brain damage, he was turned over to a State agency. That State agency found the Shower’s family because they are a household filled with adopted children, some with special needs and others who are just plain special.”
Moved by the family’s dedication and love as well as the apparent daily miracles that surround Malachi in his struggle to live, Brennan set out last fall to write a work that “might capture this young child’s spirit, conveying the family’s strength, love, faith and hope for an unknown future.”
The concert culminates the fall semester for the Wind Ensemble. The semester included the ensemble’s annual performance/recruitment tour and a recording project.
A reception for all in attendance will follow the concert.