Iconic band works and an Iowa premiere await attendees of the Meistersinger Honor Band Festival finale concert Sunday, Feb. 8, at Wartburg College.

The concert begins at 2:15 p.m. in Neumann Auditorium with music by Wartburg College Concert Bands. The Wind Ensemble will perform “and the mountains rising nowhere” by Joseph Schwantner. Festival director and Wind Ensemble conductor Dr. Craig Hancock calls the piece a “monumental band work, guaranteed to open eyes.” The Symphonic Band will give the Iowa premiere of award-winning composer and conductor Samuel Hazo’s newest work, “From Gold,” with Hazo at the podium. The festival honor bands will perform more of Hazo’s works and Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man.”

In its 45^th year, the Meistersinger festival brings more than 200 instrumentalists from five states to Wartburg for a weekend of rehearsals with celebrated band conductors. Hazo, who will direct instrumentalists in grades 10-12, has composed for professional, university and public schools and has written original scores for television, radio and the stage.

Ninth-grade students will play under the baton of Oscar Ortiz, a Mason City native and University of Northern Iowa graduate who retired last year after 36 years in music education. He served from 2009 to 2013 on the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners.