Detroit, MI The Wayne State University Department of Music has been selected to perform a showcase concert at the 58th Annual Michigan Music Education In-Service Conference. The concert will take place at the Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor on Thursday, January 16, 2003 at 8 PM. The WSU Wind Symphony, Jazz Lab Band I, Orchestra and Symphonic Chorus will be the featured WSU student ensembles. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information call (313) 577-1795.

This annual 3-day music education conference is held on the University of Michigan campus and attracts music educators from the mid-west as well as from across the country. Each year, a Michigan university or high school is selected to highlight their student ensembles and perform a "showcase concert" to kick-off the weekend's events. This prestigious honor has been awarded to Wayne State University for this year's conference. The WSU Department of Music is proud to present the Wind Symphony under the direction of Douglas Bianchi, Jazz Lab Band I under the direction of Christopher Collins, Orchestra under the direction of Kypros Markou and the Symphonic Chorus under the direction of Dennis J. Tini and Norah Duncan IV.

Douglas Bianchi, now in his sixth year as Director of Bands at Wayne State University, previously served as Director of Instrumental and Vocal Music at L'Anse Creuse High School North. Professor Bianchi has guest conducted the Detroit Civic Orchestra, the Warren Symphony and was formerly the conductor of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra. Christopher Collins, director of the WSU Jazz Lab Band I and Co-Director of Jazz Studies, is a professional jazz woodwind player. Professor Collins has toured as the leader of his own ensembles throughout Japan, South Africa, Europe and North America. Kypros Markou, Professor and Director of Orchestral Studies at Wayne State, is also Music Director of the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra in Pennsylvania and Music Director of the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra in Michigan. Dennis J. Tini, Professor and Chair of the WSU Department of Music, is Director of Choral Activities and Co-Director of Jazz Studies. For the past 30 years, Professor Tini has been internationally in demand as a conductor, clinician/adjudicator, arts advocate and jazz pianist. He has appeared regularly at major music festivals, universities and conferences throughout Europe, South Africa, Canada and the United States. Norah Duncan IV is an Assistant Professor of Music and Divisional Director of the Organ Division at Wayne State. He is also the Music Director and Principal Organist for the Cathedral of Most Blessed Sacrament. Since 1980, Professor Duncan has directed the activities of the Archdiocesan Chorus and Cathedral Culture Series, as well as liturgical music for such historic occasions has the visit of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1987 and the Eucharistic Congress in 2000.

Wayne State University Department of Music is celebrating 84 years of artistic and academic excellence. The Department's faculty includes renowned jazz artists, composers, scholars, educators and members of the internationally acclaimed Detroit Symphony Orchestra. WSU alumni have gone on to careers in distinguished orchestras, ensembles and as soloists and music educators the world over. For more information on the Department of Music, call 313.577.1795or visit the WSU Department of Music on the web at www.music.wayne.edu.