NORMAN, Okla. –
In tribute to the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, the University of Oklahoma Symphony Band will present a concert titled ‘From Far to Near’ on Monday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. in Sharp Hall at the Catlett Music Center on OU’s Norman campus.
The concert will feature seven musical works, each exploring themes of remembrance, resilience, and reflection. At the center of the program is Cathedral of Fountains, a deeply personal composition by Aaron Perrine, inspired by the Survivor Tree at the Oklahoma City National Memorial. The piece incorporates When Jesus Wept, a tune by early American composer William Billings.
“When Aaron Perrine visited the memorial, he was struck by its beauty and the powerful symbolism it holds,” said Caroline Hand, associate director of bands at OU’s Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts. “This performance carries great weight for our students. Rehearsals have been solemn, as they understand the gravity of this music and what it means to our state.”
Hand, a native of Tahlequah, also shared her personal connections to the 1995 bombing with the student musicians. “When sharing such heavy material, it is crucial to give students the option to leave the room if they find it too difficult,” she said.
Performed by 60 student musicians, the concert will serve as a tribute to the 168 lives lost and the over 680 others injured in the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, one of the deadliest acts of domestic terrorism in U.S. history.
Tickets for From Far to Near are available online, by phone at 405-325-4101, or in person at the Fine Arts Box Office, located at 500 W. Boyd St., Norman.
