MARSHFIELD – With only two weeks and about 75 tickets left to go before the annual concert, the 55 members of the UW-Marshfield/Wood County Symphonic Band are busy rehearsing the music of John Philip Sousa and baking pies.

The 5th Annual Grand Sousa Concert, a musical tradition at the campus, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, in the Helen Connor Laird Theatre on the UW-Marshfield/Wood County campus, 2000 West 5th St., Marshfield.  In an effort to fund two concerts in 2007, the UW-M/WC Music Department is selling pizza and dessert pies before the concert, starting at 6 p.m., and during intermission.

“This has been an extremely popular event,” said Robert Johanek, who has conducted the annual concerts since they began in 2002.  “A couple of years ago, we practically had fights breaking out in the lobby over the last remaining tickets.”

“We want this musical tradition to be available to anyone who wants to attend,” said Dr. David De Lyser, associate professor of music at UW-M/WC. “We’re holding the ‘As American as Pie’ fundraiser as a way to produce two concerts while still keeping the ticket prices low.”

Slices of pizza pie – pepperoni, cheese and sausage - are being provided to the music department at a reduced price by Pizza Man, Marshfield.  Forty-two dessert pies - including key lime, pecan, apple, blueberry, pumpkin, cherry, chocolate, lemon meringue, sour cream raisin, French crunch peach, rhubarb and rhubarb custard – will be baked and donated by band members.  Slices of pizza and dessert pie will be sold for $2 per slice.

Russ and Nancy Dean, Greenwood, are both playing for the Sousa concert.  Nancy Dean plays bass clarinet and Russ Dean plays euphonium. Nancy Dean is baking six pies and is considering apple, pecan, citrus chiffon and/or raspberry.

“I’m a great pie baker,” said Nancy Dean.  “I have a recipe for ‘Flawless Pie Crust’ that’s really very good.”

The Deans met when in 1963 when they were both seniors, playing in the St. Olaf University Band.  Nancy Dean got her pie crust recipe while she and her husband-to-be were visiting her college roommate.

“My roommate’s mother served us pie and had just gotten the crust recipe herself,” Nancy Dean said. “It was just wonderful, and it really is easy.”

She said she loves to bake and share her pies, and is especially pleased to be serving them in connection with the Sousa Concert.

“I really want to see a second concert next year so more people can attend,” she said. “The band does a tremendous amount of work for this concert.  It’s really a phenomenal amount of music – 18 to 20 pieces.  To only play it for one concert is kind of a letdown.  Two concerts will really be much more exciting for everyone.”

All seats for the Sousa Concert are reserved; tickets are $5 and are available through the Campus Box Office, which is open 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour before performances.  To order tickets, call 389-6534.  VISA, MasterCard and Discover are accepted.

The final “Music at the Wood” performance is the UW-Marshfield/Wood County Symphony’s Annual Mother’s Day Concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 12, in the Helen Connor Laird Theatre.  The guest artist is Anthony Ross, principal cello with the Minnesota Orchestra. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Box Office.

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