On February 8th, high school band students from communities in south central Indiana will bus to the Jacobs School of Music on the Indiana University Bloomington campus for a day of music making, community building, and mentorship. This is just one part of a larger project celebrating an exciting co-commission by the National Band Association Chapter at IU (NBA), the IU Jacobs School of Music, and high school band programs in the Indiana communities of Paoli, Salem, Nashville, and Huntingburg. Led by NBA students, this project has been advised by Assistant Professor of Music Jason Nam and supported by the IU Center for Rural Engagement’s Quality of Place Initiatives and the Jacobs School’s Office of Entrepreneurship & Career Development. The project is underwritten by an IU Student Foundation Metz Grant.
The commissioned work for concert band is by Canadian composer Cait Nishimura and will receive its first performance on February 8 in the Musical Arts Center by the Jacobs School of Music’s Concert Band, conducted by Dr. Nam. Partnering high school bands will have their names printed on the score and will be given exclusive performing rights for a period of time. Titled The Nature of Trees, the piece embodies many of the emotions the band community has experienced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and contains musical expressions such as “joyful, hesitant, yearning, and majestic.” A livestream of the performance in the Musical Arts Center at 8pm will be accessible on IU Music Live.
To give the participating high school students a unique experience, the day of activity on the IU campus will include music making, community building, and mentorship. NBA section coaches will facilitate rehearsals before a full band rehearsal conducted by Jacobs Professor Eric Smedley. The students will also participate in a side-by-side rehearsal with the Concert Band. Nishimura will virtually listen to these rehearsals and provide feedback and inspiration. Before the premiere of her work at the end of the day, the NBA student board along with section coaches will facilitate a lively Q&A session.
Side by side rehearsals at Southridge High School, during a 2019 collaboration between IU and the Huntingburg community.
Other aspects of this project include facilitating a virtual conversation about band and music making between Nishimura and the high school bands during their class times, providing the bands with composition lesson plans made by the NBA Board, creating t-shirts to commemorate the event for all participants, and a special event: The Composer’s Perspective – NBA Masterclass with Cait Nishimura on Monday, February 7th at 5:30 pm (connect virtually on Zoom).
Known for writing nature-inspired, programmatic music, Cait Nishimura has established herself as a prominent voice in the concert band community. With influences from minimalism and pop music, her work is full of simple yet lush harmonies, and themes that linger in listeners’ minds. A lifelong nature-lover, she draws inspiration from the beauty of the natural world and aims to transport listeners to the landscapes she writes about. Her music has been presented at The Midwest Clinic, MusicFest Canada, and numerous other conferences and festivals across North America.
The 2021-2022 NBA Board: President Madeline McCarthy, Vice-President Paul Yoo, Secretary Cristina Sarrico, Treasurer Sonya Bangia, and Webmaster Delaney Ruble.
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