Windy City Holiday

Windy City Holiday was composed specifically for the Fresno State Wind Orchestra for their performance at Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Illinois for the Percy Grainger Wind Band Festival. The composer, Gary P. Gilroy, serves as the Director of Bands at Fresno State and conductor of the universitys premiere wind band, the Fresno State Wind Orchestra and Dr. Gilroy wrote this work in honor of the students who raised the funding needed to be a part of the Festival. The group took a five-day trip to Chicago and as such, had a "Holiday" of sorts in the famous Windy City with Dr. Gilroy on his first major trip as the Director of Bands with the Wind Orchestra. The work is one of the more challenging compositions Gilroy has written in some time and he wanted to compose an exciting and energetic opener for this historic concert. He also wanted the work to represent the fun and excitement his students would be exposed to in Chicago so it was important that the opener be playful and light at times.