By LYDIA EARHART

Staff Writer

The School of Performing Arts held a concert to raise money for tsunami relief Feb. 5 with performances by the honors symphonic band and the honors wind ensemble.

Dr. Kenneth Robbins, the director of the School of Performing Arts, welcomed the audience to the 39th annual Ark-La-Tex honor bands.

"[We have] good weather with some great music," Robbins said.

The symphonic band is composed of 69 high school students from Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas.

The honor wind ensemble is composed of 52 high school students from Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas.

Donations given at the concert went to the International Student Organization and will benefit tsunami relief.

"[They] are helping us raise money and future hope," Jani Vibhavari, an assistant professor of architecture, said.

Vibhavari said it is a great way to show support for those who are raising money for tsunami relief.

"If you feel it in your heart, donate money," Vibhavari said.

Each band performed four pieces.

The first to perform was the honors symphonic band which was conducted by Dr. George Naff of Duke University in Durham, N.C.

The welcoming sound of the trumpets began the show.

After every piece, Naff spoke about the next song the band would play.

Naff explained why he chose each of the pieces he taught to the high school students.

A 10-minute intermission separated the two bands.

As the audience walked back into the auditorium, they were greeted by the honors wind ensemble warming up.

The honors wind ensemble was conducted by Dennis Fisher from the University of North Texas in Denton.

Like Naff, Fisher spoke to the audience on why he chose the pieces.

Fisher also mixed up a song by playing a piece of a song only 99 percent accurate, which showed the audience how music should be 100 percent accurate.

Among the crowd listening to the music was Meredith Clark, a junior business management major. She said she enjoyed the two honor bands and their conductors.

"They sounded really natural," Clark said. "It is impressive and amazing how they can come together in such a short amount of time and sound so professional."

Clark said she liked how Fisher composed one of the songs the honor symphonic band played.

"Anyone can tell Fisher is a good composer," Clark said. "It was interesting the way he showed how important accuracy is in music."