SWE tours Omaha area schools

Megan Bowen
Staff Writer
Feb. 26, 2006, Page 7

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble (SWE) returned Saturday after a performance tour that lasted four days and three nights.
The tour finale was the Doane Band Home Concert at 3 p.m. Sunday in Heckman. Band director Jay Gilbert said he thought the concerts went well.
“I definitely feel as though our music making improved with every concert,” Gilbert said. “I was very pleased with [the home] concert.”
The 45 band members and Gilbert left on Feb. 18 for their tour of the Omaha area.
That evening, they headed to Millard North High School and set up for a practice with the Millard North band.
Thursday morning the group returned to Millard North, packed up their things, loaded the bus and set out for their 1:30 p.m. concert at Omaha Bryan Senior High.
SWE then returned to Millard North and performed at that high school.
“I feel the best part of the trip was the performance given at the Millard North High School,” Gilbert said. “I hope [the tour] brought the band closer, but there is such a wonderful collection of people, a lot who like being individuals.”
After the Millard North concert, SWE members split up to stay with Millard North band parents.
Friday started off with a concert at Millard South at 8 a.m. After that concert, they loaded the bus and went to perform at Bellevue West High School.
They ate dinner and went to the Josyln Art Museum. Saturday morning, the group left around 10 a.m., getting back to Doane around 1 p.m.
SWE will go to New York for two weeks in May. They will perform in the New York area and also get to see some sights.