The University of North Carolina School of the Arts Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Mark A. Norman, presents Love and Nature, an evening of powerful music that explores the complex and emotional connections between humanity and the natural world.

The program opens with David Maslanka’s “Mother Earth Fanfare”—a striking, urgent work that calls listeners to reflect on the fragile beauty of our shared home. The concert continues with the world premiere of “A Mo(u)rning of Sparrows” by David Huang Mailman, a poignant new piece that “mourns the human and ecological costs of conquering nature. For now, the birds chirp each day. One morning, they will be silent,” the composer writes. The work delivers a haunting meditation on loss and environmental fragility.

Audiences will also experience the consortium premiere of “Love and Nature” by rising star Gala Flagello, whose work gives the concert its name. This lyrical and emotionally rich piece explores the entanglement of affection, vulnerability, and the natural world in a soundscape both deeply personal and universally resonant.

The evening will conclude with a landmark of the wind band repertoire: David Maslanka’s Symphony No. 4—an emotionally charged and spiritually driven symphony that has become one of the most powerful large-scale works for winds in the modern era. “This program brings together deep reflection and vibrant new voices,” said Mark A. Norman. “It’s an honor to premiere these new works and to re-engage with Maslanka’s music, which continues to challenge and uplift us.”