Friday night at the Met; I mean the Community Concert Hall, it sure seemed like it was the Met. Friday night the Southwest Civic Winds and conductor Rhonda Muckerman took the stage and swept us away to places from Great Britain, Germany and Rome, to Armenia, Arabia and Korea. Maestro Muckerman explained each composition to the audience. Our journey ended in Durango with a beautiful composition “October” by Eric Whitacre.

It was a reimagined journey around the world like a big dream. The kind Carl Jung might describe as an encrypted message from the unconscious. In other words, they didn’t just take us to places many of us have never been, they transported us as a community to places we never imagined. Listening to a composition about the Appian Way in Italy, a retired Fort Lewis College professor described closing his eyes and feeling transported to the place he once visited.

The SWCW kicked off the performance with a corporate donor guest conducting the opening Star Spangled Banner. This opportunity of a lifetime to conduct, or otherwise participate in, the SWCW during a performance applies to any person or organization giving a substantial donation to this 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

The SWCW is an all-volunteer symphonic band made up of outstanding and dedicated musicians. Some loyal members drive from as far away as Farmington, Cortez and even Bernalillo, New Mexico.

SWCW performs again Feb. 27, at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.

Lydia Aragon

Durango