Scot Symphonic Band and Pipe Band tour begins March 5

The College of Wooster’s Scot Symphonic Band and Pipe Band will perform at McGaw Chapel (340 East University Street) on Sunday, March 5 at 3 p.m., the opening concert of the band’s 48th annual spring tour. 

The bands will perform at Washingtonville High School in Washingtonville, New York on March 18 at 7 p.m. and at at Monroe-Woodbury High School in Central Valley, New York, on March 20 at 7:30 p.m. 

The bands will present Beside the Golden Door, a program inspired by “The New Colossus,” the poem inscribed on the pedestal of The Statue of Liberty written by Emma Lazarus. The music will celebrate how those new to the United States profoundly shaped American music and culture during the 20th and 21st centuries.  Featuring two student guest artists, tenor saxophonist Martin Zwergel ’26, and tenor Ethan Yoder ’25, the repertoire will include such classics as Embraceable You by George Gershwin, Seventy-Six Trombones by Meredith Willson, and God Bless America by Irving Berlin.  The program will conclude with Jennifer Jolley’s MARCH!, which explores the use of music as a political tool in authoritarian regimes and Viet Cuong’s John and Jim, which celebrates Ohioans Jim Obergefell and John Arthur who brought marriage equality to the United States in the landmark Supreme Court Case of Obergefell v. Hodges.  

Directed by Jeffrey D. Gershman, the band is the premier wind ensemble at the College and has entertained audiences nationwide during its annual spring tour since 1976. Rooted in a deep belief in the importance of inclusive programming, Scot Symphonic Band performances draw both from the cornerstones of the wind literature and the finest contemporary works. The ensemble’s distinctive uniforms,  kilts with hand-sewn pleats made from the College’s MacLeod tartan, represent Wooster’s Scottish heritage. 

Gershman is in his third year as the Director of Bands at Wooster. He also serves as the director of the Wooster Concert Band, assistant director of the Scot Marching Band, and teaches courses in conducting and music education. He previously served on the faculties at Capital University, Indiana University, and Texas A&M University-Commerce. Gershman holds a Bachelor of Music Education and the first Master of Music in Wind Conducting degree conferred by Indiana University. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting from The University of Texas at Austin. 

There is no admission fee for the performances. For more information, contact Jill Harbaugh at jharbaugh@wooster.edu.

Posted in News on March 7, 2025.