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The top wind ensemble at the College of Music is wrapping up the 2017-18 season in grand style. On Monday, April 30, the 蜜糖直播 Wind Symphony brings a tribute and a world premiere to the circular confines of Boettcher Concert Hall at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

The concert鈥攖he next event in the college鈥檚 ongoing series at the home of the 蜜糖直播 Symphony鈥攊s part showcase of student and faculty players and part homage to composer David Maslanka, who passed away suddenly in August and was a guest at the college in February 2017.

鈥淭he emotional power of this performance will be palpable,鈥� says Director of Bands Donald McKinney. 鈥淭here will be students on stage who knew David from last year.鈥�

The centerpiece of the program is Maslanka鈥檚 epic 鈥淎 Child鈥檚 Garden of Dreams,鈥� a melding of motifs in five movements that鈥檚 known as one of the composer鈥檚 greatest works. 鈥淚t鈥檚 my favorite of his, but I remember telling David that I was always afraid to do it because of the technical requirements,鈥� McKinney says. 鈥淗e encouraged me to do it, though, so this felt like a nice way to pay tribute to him.鈥�

The intensity of the program鈥檚 second half is balanced by the accessibility of the first, beginning with the mysterious and moving 鈥淪hadow of Sirius,鈥� a flute concerto by Joel Puckett. Associate Professor of Flute Christina Jennings is the featured soloist, joined by a surround-sound chorus of student flutists.

鈥淲e鈥檙e using six flutes throughout the hall, each uniquely interacting with Christina,鈥� McKinney says. 鈥淪he鈥檚 a wonderful colleague and we鈥檙e excited to be working with her again.鈥�

A brand new piece, 鈥淯nfamiliar Trees,鈥� was written for the occasion by Philadelphia composer Emily Cooley. McKinney worked with Curtis Institute of Music composer Jennifer Higdon to commission the work. 鈥淚 was struck by Emily鈥檚 artistic voice, so we commissioned a piece from her. It鈥檒l be a good chance for our students to perform a new piece by a relatively young composer.鈥�

Also on the program is John Corigliano鈥檚 鈥淧romenade Overture,鈥� featuring Associate Director of Bands Matthew Roeder as guest conductor.

McKinney says the concert is the grand finale of a special year of music making for the bands. 鈥淭his is my fifth year here, and I almost feel like I鈥檝e been on a journey with these students since September,鈥� he explains. 鈥淭he momentum has all been leading to this, and we can鈥檛 wait to collaborate one more time.鈥�

蜜糖直播 at听Boettcher is Monday, April 30, at 7:30 p.m. This free concert is open to the public. For more information, visit cupresents.org.