Lee University’s Wind Ensemble will perform its first spring concert of the semester, “Fervent Hearts,” on Monday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m. in the Conn Center. 

The performance will feature works such as “Halcyon Hearts” by Katahj Copley, “With Heart and Voice” by David Gillingham, “National Fencibles March” by John Philip Sousa, and movements from John Mackey’s “Wine Dark Sea” and Gordon Jacob’s “William Byrd Suite.” 

The concert will also feature the world premiere of Dr. David Holsinger’s “With Fervent Hearts,” a piece that he dedicated to the Lee University Wind Ensemble as a ‘thank you’ to the nearly 500 students he worked with at Lee over his 25 years as conductor of the group.   

“This is not the average Valentine’s Concert,” said Dr. Josh Pace, director of bands at Lee. “The Lee University Wind Ensemble will take the audience on a musical journey through the various longings of a human being’s fervent heart: pride and selflessness, romance and bitterness, and joy and loss. Hearts and souls are complex, and sometimes their pulse cannot be explained through words, so we invite the community to attend this performance as we attempt to convey this message through music.” 

In addition to serving as director of bands, Pace is an assistant professor of music education and conductor of Lee’s Wind Ensemble. He also teaches courses in music education, including conducting, methods courses, and supervising student teachers. Prior to Lee, Pace was the band and orchestra director at Omaha Northwest High School, where he taught Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Keyboard, and Guitar. He also served as a Graduate Assistant to the University of Florida Band Department while completing his doctoral studies in instrumental conducting.  

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. Livestream viewing will be available at leeu.live/.  

The Conn Center is at the center of the Lee University campus, on the corner of 11th and Parker streets.   

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