Music is a uniting force that brings people together. On Tuesday, Nov. 19, the symphonic band hosted a performance at the J. Louis von der Mehden Recital Hall. The concert lasted for just over an hour and drew in students and families alike.
The symphonic band at the University of Connecticut typically consists of around 70 students, who are either music majors or students who get through a strict audition process. The band includes some of UConn’s most talented students, well representing the fine arts department. Seeing students gathered to watch their friends and peers perform was refreshing.
Alexa Callahan, a first-semester pre-teaching major said, “I think that sports are so heavily appreciated that we tend to forget about the arts when these students work just as hard. I think we need to evenly support all groups who work hard at their craft and provide entertainment for other students. We can overlook the arts students, which isn’t fair for all the dedication they put in.”
The hard work of the group, led by Associate Director of Bands and Interim Wind Ensemble Director, Ricardo Brown, definitely did not go unnoticed. Brown is passionate about the work he does and announced at the concert that this will be his last performance for a while, as his wife is due to give birth in January 2025.
The concert was a great success. “I think as I’ve grown up, I have grown more appreciative towards the arts and all the work they put into it. I like seeing how proud the musicians are of themselves and how effortlessly they complete these complicated pieces,” Callahan explained.
Opening the set was “Flourish for Wind Band” by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The piece was fitting as the band is composed of primarily wind instruments. The song was quite brief and upbeat, serving as a great way to ease the crowd into the rest of the show.
Following were pieces “Pageant, Op. 59” by Vincent Persichetti and “Illumination” by David Maslanka. These songs were longer than the first and just as pleasant, with “Illumination” in particular being very playful and mischievous sounding. The first half of the show was very entertaining overall.
Isaiah Monroe-Shaw, a first-semester pre-teaching major shared, “I know pretty much the whole percussion section, so I’ve been to a couple of concerts before. I think this has been my favorite so far, the last piece had great storytelling, and I really appreciated the percussion, especially the symphony.”
I think as I’ve grown up, I have grown more appreciative towards the arts and all the work they put into it.
Alexa Callahan, UConn First-Semester Pre-Teaching Student
After a short intermission, the band only had one remaining song, “Of Sailors and Whales: Five Scenes from Melville, Op. 78” by W. Francis McBeth. This piece was over ten minutes long and was the true star of the show. Ranging in tempo and volume, the song was drastically different at any given point. Between each scene were short readings from the infamous novel, “Moby Dick.” The reader did a great job of presenting his lines with enthusiasm and artistry to articulately match the tone of the band.
The third scene of the piece also featured choral singing by members of the band. Seeing a diverse range of talents present in these individuals was beautiful. The song was an outstanding choice by Brown, blending together many forms of art, such as music (both lyrical and instrumental), acting and literature.
Clearly, the song was a fan favorite, as Callahan told, “My favorite performance was definitely the ten-minute piece that was inspired by Moby Dick. I thought it was super impressive how they stated they haven’t done a ten-minute piece before. So, that being their first time performing it was amazing to see. You could tell it took a lot of time to craft and prepare for with all the elements of different instruments working together. I loved how they included talking points when the band would stop playing and a dramatic voice would speak. I haven’t been to a band performance where they’ve done that before. It was interesting to add and fit well.”
The symphonic band put on a memorable performance, with the hours of practice by the director and students shining through. When asked if she would attend another concert, Callahan explained, “I have not went to many band performances except when I was in elementary and middle school. It is cool, however, to see how practice does make perfect now in college. These little kids are now performing in college bands and showing what they are made of. It shows that success doesn’t grow overnight and all the determination they put into this is worth it. It is a personal accomplishment that not many can relate to.”