Concert Band at CBDNA

On February 20, 2020, Dr. Jason H. Nam and the band performed in Gannon Concert Hall on the campus of Chicago’s DePaul University at the North Central Division Conference of the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA). Additionally, they performed on Feb. 19 at Downers Grove South High School, Glenn Williams, band director. Eric M. Smedley and Otis Murphy served as guest conductor and guest saxophone soloist, respectively.

It all began in June 2019 when Dr. Nam learned that he and the Concert Band were selected to perform follow­ing a blind submission, and were one of eight collegiate ensembles across the Midwest to be selected for this honor. This marked the first time that the IU Concert Band has been invited to perform at a CBDNA regional conference.

“My colleagues and I in the IU Department of Bands/Wind Conducting are so very proud of the students of the Concert Band, for their very artistic and engaging performance at the recent CBDNA North Central Conference at DePaul University in Chicago, IL. It was a significant milestone for this fine ensemble to be invited to perform at such a prestigious event and represent Indiana University and the Jacobs School of Music. Additionally, the ability of the Concert Band to perform with the likes of some of the finest collegiate concert bands across the Midwest demonstrates the outstanding and distinctive musical quality evident within all of the performing groups in the IU Jacobs School of Music bands.”

– Dr. Jason H. Nam

The program included several CBDNA premieres, including Joni Greene’s “Glow” and Nicole Piunno’s “Beauty Broken.” Perhaps most notable and poignant was the CBDNA premiere of “And Sings the Tune Without the Words” by Aaron Perrine — a piece personally commissioned by Dr. Nam and his wife, Melissa, in memory of their daughter, Evelyn.

CBDNA Program

1. Joni Greene:  Glow (CBDNA premiere)
2. Aaron Perrine:  And Sings the Tune Without the Words
3. from Concertango: “Molto Allegro” by Luis Serrano Alarcón, with Otis Murphy, Alto Saxophone
4. Nicole Piunno:  Beauty Broken (CBDNA premiere)
5. David Dzubay:  Nocturne, with Eric M. Smedley, Conductor
6. Cindy McTee:  from Ballet for Band :  “Where Time Plays the Fiddle”

The IU Bands have distinguished themselves in recent years with multiple appearances at both the North Central regional and national conferences of the CBDNA. In 2018, Dr. Eric M. Smedley and the IU Symphonic Band were selected to perform at the CBDNA North Central Conference at Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, MI), and Professor Stephen W. Pratt and the IU Wind Ensemble were selected to perform for the CBDNA National Conference at the Schermerhorn Center (Nashville, TN) in 2015.