Rydlinski to conduct final Wind Ensemble performance

George Rydlinski will conduct his final performance with the Music Department’s Wind Ensemble this Saturday, April 23, at 7:30 p.m. in the Davis Concert Hall.

Rydlinski joined the Music Department after a military career where he served as bassoonist with the 76th Army Band in Kaiserslautern, West Germany, the Fourth US Army Band at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, the US Continental Army Band at Fort Monroe, Virginia, and with the 9th Army Band at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. At Wainwright, he retired as the First Sergeant of the band.

In 1996 he became the principal bassoonist of the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra and the Arctic Chamber Orchestra. It was in 2001 that Rydlinski joined the UAF Music Department as an adjunct faculty member; in 2016, he was appointed as director of the Wind Symphony. By Rydlinski’s estimate, between the symphony, band, and a woodwind group he had with his wife, he has been a part of 8-10 performances a year with UAF. 

“It’s nice to see how the Fairbanks community steps up to support the students here at UAF,” he said, pointing out that a majority of the ensemble for the upcoming performance is composed of community members.

Although this will be his last performance as the director of the Wind Ensemble, Rydlinski will continue to be involved in the music community in Fairbanks. On May 1, he will conduct his last performance with the Fairbanks Youth Symphony, which will also be held at UAF. He will also continue to play and perform as a bassoonist. 

“I’ve had an amazing time at the university,” he said. “It’s all about the people. Great colleagues to work with, and working with students is always a plus for me.”

Tickets for the April 23 performance will be available at the door, and are $5 for students, seniors, and military, and $10 for general admission.