Communities: Paoli, Salem, Huntingburg, Nashville
Launched: world premier of a new work, full day of workshops, side-by-side rehearsal of high school students and IU Concert Band
Engaged: 4 high school bands
Involved: IU Band Department, National Band Association Student Chapter, IU Concert Band
Summary
The National Band Assocation student chapter at Indiana University launched an exciting new project, co-commissioning composer Cait Nishimura to write a new work for concert band.The National Band Association (NBA) is a university student organization through the Jacobs School of Music that is dedicated to promoting the musical and educational significance of bands. The NBA envisioned this project engaging the community by including music students in local schools. The rural engagement initiative proved to be a great partner, sharing and capitalizing on its extensive relationships with partner communities in southern Indiana. Teachers and students from Paoli, Salem, Huntingburg, and Nashville were involved in this NBA project. As co-commissioners of the new work, the name of their school program is on the score and they were granted exclusivity rights to perform the commissioned musical work. The project ended with a field trip where the high school band students spent an entire day at IU, participating in small and large group coachings, a campus tour, and a Q&A session before having front row seats to the brand new premier.
“Hearing the students make music on the MAC stage with the IU Concert Band was a very emotional experience for everyone listening. After nearly two years of having to be separated from each other and living in a world of isolation, it was a big rush of emotions to finally see students make music with each other and see music act as a moderator to bring students of all paths of life together again.”
Paul Yoo, NBA Vice President and Section Coach
Read more about this project on our blog here and here
JSoM Students Involved:
Sonya Bangia
Madeline McCarthy
Delaney Ruble
Cristina Sarrico
Ava Traum
Paul Yoo
Others Involved:
Lannie Butler
Chris Bouveroux
Christian Karkosky
Jason Nam
Cait Nishimura
Bonnie Trueblood