“This year’s group of Wind Ensemble musicians are a special group,” says JoAnn Wieszczyk, Moravian University Director of Instrumental Music and the Moravian University Wind Ensemble. “The students are so artistic.”

Moravian University Wind Ensemble presents “Song and Dance,” 4 p.m. March 1, Foy Hall, Moravian University.

“I support doing collaborative work to provide students a rounded experience. Last year’s concert included musicians from Liberty High School Grenadier Band and this year our guests are members of Pennridge High School Symphonic Band,” Wieszczyk says.

The concert opens with the Pennridge performance of Todd Stalter’s (b. 1966) dynamic work “Rephrygeration,” featuring aggressive low brass and rapid “sonic lightning” woodwind passages.

Based on the third movement of Camille Saint-Saens’s “Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 78,” Julie Giroux’s (b. 1961) arrangement of “Chorale for Wind Band and Melodic Percussion” features melodic percussion such as vibraphone, bells or marimba.

“Caribana Afterparty” by Omar Thomas (b. 1984) transports the audience to a Caribbean carnival.

After intermission, the Moravian Wind Ensemble performs three works: Kevin Walczyk’s (b. 1964) “Songs of Paradise,” a setting of five hymns by African-American composer Charles Albert Tindley (1851-1933); William Francis McBeth’s (1933-2012) “Canto,” loosely based on the well-known Japanese melody “Sakura,” and Oliver Nichol’s arrangement of Arturo Marquez’s (b.1952) popular “Danzon No. 2.”

Says Wieszczyk, “I can’t say enough about the exciting ‘Danzon No. 2.’ We have fabulous soloists, including Ashley Golden, clarinet; Matthew Tomko, piccolo; Nick Mancini, soprano saxophone; Torin Heiland, trumpet, and Lindsay Detwiler, piano.

The concert ends with John Philip Sousa’s (1854-1932) “El Capitan” and the combined ensemble performance of Shelley Hanson’s (b. 1951) “Albanian Dances.”

Moravian University Wind Ensemble, “Song and Dance,” 4 p.m. March 1, Foy Hall, Moravian University, 342 Main St., Bethlehem. Tickets: Suggested donation: $15; https://www.moravian.edu/music/concert-schedule

The origins of Black History Month began in 1926 with the establishment of “Negro History Week” by Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950).

The month of February was chosen to align with the birthdays of Frederick Douglas (c.1818-1895) and Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), who each supported the emancipation of slaves.

On Feb. 10, 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized February as Black History Month.

“We are pleased to commemorate Black History Month in a program featuring two local Black artists, Evelyn Stewart and Chet Brown, and music by mostly Black composers,” says Ronald Demkee, Allentown Band Conductor.

The Allentown Band presents its “Celebrate Black History Month” concert, 3 p.m. Feb. 22, Christ Lutheran Church, Allentown.

The concert opens with “Symphony No. 1: Juba Dance” and “The Old Boatman” by American composer, pianist and teacher Florence Price (1887-1953). She is credited as the first Black female composer to have a symphony performed by a major American orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, in 1933.

Soprano Evelyn Stewart performs Luigi Zaninelli’s wonderful setting of “Five American Spirituals,” including: “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” “The Sweet By and By,” “Amazing Grace,” “Old-Time Religion” and “Shall We Gather at the River?”

The band continues with “A Folk Song Suite” of “Get on Board Little Children,” “Deep River” and “Medley” by William Grant Still (1895-1978) followed by Chet Brown on vocals for Sammy Nestico’s “Tribute to Sammy Davis, Jr.” and Hoagy Carmichael’s “Georgia.”

The concert closes with Scott Joplin’s “Pineapple Rag” and W.C. Handy’s “St. Louis Blues.”

Says Demkee, “We have the good fortune to have Chet and Evelyn with us on a regular basis and Christ Church is a wonderful venue for a concert, providing good acoustics and sight lines for all in the audience.”

Stewart has performed with the Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra and Opera North Company of Philadelphia. While attending then Moravian College she was selected for Master Class participation with opera stars Denyce and Samuel Ramey. She is a private voice instructor.

Brown, a vocal instructor at Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, is a studio vocalist and voice-over talent. He sings with the Frank DiBussolo Group and the Last Thursday Band.

The Allentown Band, “Celebrate Black History Month,” 3 p.m. Feb. 22, Christ Lutheran Church, 1245 Hamilton St., Allentown. Free-will donation; https://allentownband.com

“Classical View” is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers, To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com