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CORVALLIS - Oregon State University's Music a la Carte concert series will present the OSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble, directed by David Becker, on Thursday, Feb. 20 in OSU's Memorial Union Lounge.

The free public concert begins at noon. Audience members are welcome to bring a sack lunch.

"Masque" is the theme of this concert by OSU's premiere wind and percussion ensemble, that will perform musical diversions with some unexpected twists and turns. Becker will conduct the 50-member ensemble in an abridged version of its full winter concert, scheduled for March 2.

The opening work, "Masque," by British composer Kenneth Hesketh, sets the stage by depicting the spirit of the medieval masque with bravura playing and a dash of wildness. The classic concert-in-the-park showpiece, "The Blue Bells of Scotland" by Arthur Pryor, will feature senior performance major Jon Dysinger on euphonium.

Guest conductors are Bradley G. Townsend, OSU's director of athletic bands, and Brett Randolph, a graduate teaching assistant in music education.

Townsend will conduct the euphonium solo and then take the band on a wild romp through "Noisy Wheels of Joy" by young American composer Eric Whitacre. Randolph will conduct "Divertimento," a milestone work from the 1950s by Vincent Persichetti.

"Folksongs For Band No. 3" by Australian composer David Stanhope, "Be Thou My Vision" by David Dillingham, and a whimsical German march by Marcel Wangler complete the program.

For more information, call 541-737-4061.