Sept. 4 Dr. Nam presented “The Cutting Edge: A Sampling of Wind Band/Ensemble Music in the 21st Century”
Dr. Nam shared a biography of these composers, along with musical excerpts and score samples:
- Michael Daugherty: Bells for Stokowski (2002)
- John Corigliano: Symphony No. 3 “Circus Maximus” (2004)
- Steven Bryant: Ecstatic Waters (2008)
- Paul Dooley: Masks and Machines (2015)
- Jennifer Jolley: The Eyes of the World Are Upon You (2017)
- James Stephenson: Symphony No. 2 “Voices” (2018)
- Omar Thomas: Come Sunday (2019)
Sept. 11 Dr. Dorsey presented Negotiating the World of Professional Music.
Panel members: Brian Rood (2nd Trumpet, Kansas City Symphony, ICSOM-Past President, ICSOM Electronic Media Committee-Current Chair, AFM & Employers’ Pension Fund & AFM Strike Fund-Current Trustee), Roger Roe (Assistant Principal Oboe & English Horn, Indianapolis Symphony), Donna Parkes (Principal Trombone, Louisville Orchestra & Colorado Music Festival).
They discussed social dynamics, making connections inside and outside of the music business, the inner workings of orchestra committees, boards, and musicians’ unions; and the importance of mental toughness and self-care.
Sept. 18 Dr. Nam hosted composers/composition professors David Biedenbender and Jennifer Jolley, who discussed career pathways in composition and higher education, representation in the composition and performance fields, and thoughts on the wind band medium. They offered insight and advice on the creative process, staying motivated, and more.
Sept. 25 Dr. Smedley gave a presentation titled: “Thinking Like a Conductor: How to Get the Most Out of Ensemble Rehearsals”. He promoted the idea of maximum awareness for ensemble players, including understanding more about the instruments they perform with, studying scores to gain maximum awareness of how individual parts interact with the ensemble as a whole, and using the student years to develop relationships with colleagues and a curious mindset aimed at gleaning as much knowledge from their surroundings as possible.
Oct. 2 Dr. Dorsey hosted freelance musician and Los Angeles-based conductor and bassoonist Anthony Parnther, who shared his musical background and diverse career in Los Angeles. Anthony shared his experiences about moving to LA, networking, and eventually breaking into the film, TV, and video game recording industry as a multiple woodwinds instrumentalist, voice-over performer, and conductor, and also as music director and conductor of the San Bernardino Symphony and the Southeast Symphony of Los Angeles.
Oct. 9 “The Art of Interpretation: What Pablo Casals’ Wisdom Can Teach Us About Bringing Music to Life.” Using passages from Casals and the Art of Interpretation by David Blum, and several musical examples, Dr. Smedley emphasized: strive for the utmost expression when playing; continually engage throughout a phrase; project and exaggerate the music beyond your personal space; a long note always crescendos or diminuendos; repetition demands contrast; and more.
Oct. 16 “Forging a Performance Career: The Ins-and-Outs of Creating and Maintaining a Professional Chamber Ensemble.” Dr. Nam was joined by the Kenari Quartet: Steven Banks, Kyle Baldwin, Bob Eason, and Corey Dundee, all of whom met as IU students. They described the organization and dedication needed to launch the ensemble professionally, how they maintain the group’s cohesiveness despite living in different parts of the country, and more.
Oct. 23 “Military Band Careers.” Dr. Dorsey hosted: Violinist and Master Gunnery Sergeant Peter Wilson, “The President’s Own” US Marine Band; Trumpeter and Master Gunnery Sergeant Susan Rider, “The President’s Own” US Marine Band; and Arranger Robert Thurston, Washington, D.C. Air Force Band.
Oct. 30 “Solving the Intonation Puzzle: What You Can Do In and Out of Rehearsal To Align With Your Colleagues.” Dr. Smedley presented tools to learn and hear intonation and demonstrated how to use apps for efficient improvement.
Nov 6 Dr. Dorsey hosted Dr. Richard White, Associate Professor of Tuba, University of New Mexico and Principal Tuba, New Mexico Philharmonic Orchestra. Dr. Richard White is the subject of an inspirational documentary, R.A.W. Tuba: From Sandtown to Symphony, that recounts his journey from intermittent homelessness to world-class symphony musician and professor. https://rawtuba.com
Nov. 13 Dr. Smedley presented “Getting the Best of Both Worlds: The Marriage of Popular and Classical music” in which he will examine several wind band works from the past 15 years that utilize popular music styles in fresh and exciting ways. Composers today have spent their lifetimes with unprecedented exposure to styles such as hip-hop, rock, electronic dance music, etc., which has forever changed how music is created and disseminated to audiences.
Nov. 20 Dr. Nam session hosted “And We Were Heard,” a group that connects underrepresented composers with conductor-educators as well as performers to foster equitable programming practices through collaborative recording and digital dissemination. Panelists will be Dr. Kaitlin Bove (Pierce College), Dr. Mary Kate McNally (Ohio Wesleyan), Dr. Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin (Penn State University), Dr. Kira Omelchenko (Wilfred Laurier University)
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