The Saginaw Valley marching band closed the season with a final concert.

Director William Wollner thanked the audience for their support through the season in its final performance of the year on Nov. 18.

The band traveled to Grand Valley with the football team this year. According to director William Wollner, it was exciting to do because they don’t frequently have the opportunity to travel with the team.

The band performed songs they previously played at the games. The concert included selections from Stevie Wonder, a collection of ’60s songs by The Doors and The Beach Boys, to commemorate the university’s 50^th anniversary.

They also played songs created by Claude-Michel Schonberg and arranged for a marching band. Schonberg was a French performer in the late ’70s who went on to compose musicals, including “Les Misérables.”

According to Wollner, highlights of the season were playing for homecoming and packing up for Grand Valley.

“We’ve had one of the biggest bands we’ve ever had (this year). We had two twirlers, a first we’ve had in 20 years,” Wollner said.

The band has been under Wollner’s direction since 1982, when he started teaching with SVSU. His hopes for the band program to grow and reach 100 members. They had 55 students playing this year.

Marching band is finished for the academic year, but during the winter semester there is a pep band and concert band that will be held through a one credit class. The concert band performs at an annual spring concert and at the spring commencement. Many who play in the marching band will play in one of the winter bands as well.

“I think it’s been a great year, we’ve done everything we’ve set out to do,” Wollner said.