Music Director Bruce Engel brought the Stony Brook Wind Ensemble to the Staller Main Stage on Nov. 11.

The concert, titled “Flight,” featured classic music from artists such as Gioachino Rossini and Johann Strauss II.

The Wind Ensemble is composed of undergraduate students, graduate students and some of Long Island’s finest musicians.

The ensemble performs music from classics and the greatest hits of Broadway to the music from classic movies.

Chris Valentino, a senior pharmacology major, said, “I play the saxophone, so I figured it would be a good time and I like symphony music.”

As the lights dimmed, the musicians started playing “La gazza ladra” by Rossini. The music was invigorating and uplifting throughout the performance.

The next performance was “Die Fledermaus” by Strauss.

The second half of the concert consisted of music from “Swan Lake,” the theme from “Superman” and selections from “Mary Poppins.”

The ensemble played songs such as “Step in Time” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” After the final note, the musicians received a standing ovation.

“We just talked about the ‘Mary Poppins’ one and it brings back so many memories,” Rose Accetta, a teacher from the Lincoln Educational Services in Stony Brook, said.

Chris Blount, a junior health science major, said, “When I looked at the program, I was really excited that they were going do Swan Lake actually because I am fond of that music.”

Excerpts from “Swan Lake” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky were beautifully arranged.

After the final scheduled performance, Engel had the ensemble perform an encore.

The ensemble played the finale song from the movie “Star Trek.” The ensemble blew the crowd away with their sound and received another standing ovation.

“All of the songs were really good and very well performed,” Blount said.

Those who enjoy hearing symphony music and classic hits should definitely see the Wind Ensemble next spring.

The ensemble will be hitting the stage yet again on April 20. at 8 p.m. on the Staller Mainstage.

The ensemble will be performing “American Salute” on Staller’s Main Stage.

The performance will feature music by John Philip Sousa, Antonín Dvorák, Charles Ives, Morton Gould, Aaron Copland, Glenn Miller and Tchaikovsky and will be conducted by
Bruce Engel.