Northwest Concert Band to perform ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’

The Northwest Concert Band’s fall concert will feature Modest Mussorgsky’s 1874 “Pictures at an Exhibition” in its entirety. The performance will be on Saturday, Nov. 1, at Community Church of Rolling Meadows.

Mussorgsky’s suite was inspired by touring an exhibition of the works of architect and painter Viktor Hartmann, a close friend of Mussorgsky who died unexpectedly the previous year. You can imagine Mussorgsky walking through the exhibition, viewing pictures that attracted his attention, and thinking of his departed friend.

Rounding out the program will be additional pieces such as John Williams’ “Lincoln,” arranged by Jay Bocook; “Mancini! A Medley for Concert Band,” arranged by Alfred Reed; and “Country Road,” by James Taylor, Maynard Ferguson, and Adrian Drover, arranged by Northwest Concert Band conductor Randy Steinberg.

The concert will be held at 1 p.m. at the Community Church of Rolling Meadows, 2720 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows Admission is $10 for adults payable at the door. Ages 18 and younger attend for free.

For more information about the band, videos of past performances, or to join the band’s mailing list, go to www.northwestconcertband.org or email nwcb.media@gmail.com.

Steinberg has conducted the band since May 2018. He plays several instruments and is a prolific arranger and composer. He received his musical education at Roosevelt University and has taught music as a high school band director.

The band is supported in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and by donations from our audience. For information, visit northwestconcertband.org.