The University of Connecticut’s Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble performed at the von Der Mehden Recital Hall this past Thursday, Oct. 17, as a preview for this year’s upcoming performances. Each group played three different works by various composers, with the event running from 8 p.m. until about 9:30 p.m.
Both ensembles are in-person classes that involve seven hours of instruction per week — however, many students will practice outside of class as well. They each are a part of the MUSI 1110 course, which, in addition to Concert Band, teaches “repertoire, rehearsal technique, preparation and presentation of concerts,” according to the UConn class catalog.
Conducted by Ricardo T. Brown, the UConn Symphonic Band opened the night with “Flourish for Wind Band” by Ralph Vaughan Williams, followed by “Lux Aurumque” by Eric Whitacre and “Illumination: Overture for Band” by David Maslanka. With 27 different musicians on stage, the band included instruments such as the flute, clarinet, trumpet, tuba, euphonium and saxophone.
Brown is currently the associate director of athletic bands and interim director of Wind Ensemble for UConn, which has led to his involvement in the UConn Marching Band and Pep Band.
“I think the concert was the perfect way to encapsulate the wind bands,” Ethan DeBaise, a member of the Symphonic Band, said when asked about his thoughts on the night. DeBaise is a third-semester music education major, who performed as a clarinet player. “Both groups did an amazing job performing a variety of different pieces, and I couldn’t be happier with my performance and the group’s. While individual performances are fun and exhilarating, nothing beats the joy I get from performing music with friends.”
The Symphonic Band was then followed by the Wind Ensemble, conducted by Janet Song Kim, who uses any pronouns. The group performed “Redwood” by Ryan George, “Deep River” by Benjamin Horne and the first movement of “Symphony No. 6” by Julie Giroux, titled, “The Blue Marble.”
Made up of 45 members, the Wind Ensemble contains many of the same instruments as the Symphonic Band but also includes oboe, bassoon, upright bass and piano. Similarly to the Symphonic Band, many of the students in the Wind Ensemble also participate in the UConn Marching Band and/or the UConn Pep Band.
Kim is the director of Wind Bands and coordinator of Large Instrumental Ensembles at UConn. Not only do they conduct the Wind Ensemble and teach multiple music classes at UConn, but they also facilitate wind conducting studies at the graduate level.
This year, the Wind Ensemble has themed its performances around the idea of “humanity’s footprint,” with each song having some connection to life on Earth. One aspect of this idea is represented by Julie Giroux’s “The Blue Marble.” According to Alexander Molina, a member of the Wind Ensemble, the ensemble will continue to add a new movement from this symphony to their performances as the year continues.
“The Blue Marble” is “based around the advent of life on Earth,” Molina said, along with “the beauty that exists in nature, and the good and bad that can be done to the environment.” Molina is a member of the committee that decides on the pieces that the Wind Ensemble will perform during the year and played in the percussion section for Thursday’s concert.
UConn’s von der Mehden Recital Hall, located within the Fine Arts Complex, is the home of many performances throughout the year. Upcoming events include Julia Kaliszewski’s Senior Saxophone Recital on Oct. 22, the UConn Symphony Orchestra on Oct. 24 and the UConn Trombone Choir on Oct. 27.
The UConn Wind Ensemble will be performing at the von der Mehden Recital Hall on Nov. 15, and the Symphonic Band will perform there next on Nov. 19.