TSWE High School Band Festival

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   Glenn,
I had a very enjoyable night on Tuesday.  My Wind Ensemble conductor organized an event at the Tempe Center for the Arts (our home performance venue) with 4 high school bands.  Each group performed for about 20 minutes and did 3 or 4 pieces.  I was very impressed at the level of some of the bands (the Dobson High group was exceptional).  At the end of the evening, our Wind Ensemble took the stage and performed for the kids (Festive Overture, 2 movements from the new piece by Robert W. Smith – Don Quixote, and Pas Redouble).
I thought about you during this concert.  I’m not sure what it would take to make a festival like this happen in your area, but it was really enjoyable for everyone in attendance.  The kids got to hear other high school bands perform in a beautiful venue (I could tell the kids enjoyed looking out into the hall when they got on stage), and they experienced adults performing in a similar ensemble at a very high level (demonstrating that keeping up playing well out of school can be an enjoyable lifelong pursuit).  I’m sure the parents also enjoyed the evening.
The night before, we played our March concert, and if you haven’t heard the Don Quixote Symphony, it’s worth suggesting to the conductor of your wind ensemble for a future season.  What a fine new work for band.  Also on the program was October by Eric Whitacre.  That was my favorite piece on the concert.  It was composed in 2000, but this is the first time we’ve played it (and the first that I’ve heard it).  Very nice!

Hope you’ll consider some of these suggestions.

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Derek Reaban Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orchestra* Joined: 06 Jun 2007 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 650	Quote Reply Topic: TSWE High School Band Festival Posted: 10 Mar 2010 at 11:21
	Glenn, I had a very enjoyable night on Tuesday. My Wind Ensemble conductor organized an event at the Tempe Center for the Arts (our home performance venue) with 4 high school bands. Each group performed for about 20 minutes and did 3 or 4 pieces. I was very impressed at the level of some of the bands (the Dobson High group was exceptional). At the end of the evening, our Wind Ensemble took the stage and performed for the kids (Festive Overture, 2 movements from the new piece by Robert W. Smith – Don Quixote, and Pas Redouble). I thought about you during this concert. I’m not sure what it would take to make a festival like this happen in your area, but it was really enjoyable for everyone in attendance. The kids got to hear other high school bands perform in a beautiful venue (I could tell the kids enjoyed looking out into the hall when they got on stage), and they experienced adults performing in a similar ensemble at a very high level (demonstrating that keeping up playing well out of school can be an enjoyable lifelong pursuit). I’m sure the parents also enjoyed the evening. The night before, we played our March concert, and if you haven’t heard the Don Quixote Symphony, it’s worth suggesting to the conductor of your wind ensemble for a future season. What a fine new work for band. Also on the program was October by Eric Whitacre. That was my favorite piece on the concert. It was composed in 2000, but this is the first time we’ve played it (and the first that I’ve heard it). Very nice! Hope you’ll consider some of these suggestions.
	Derek Reaban Tempe, Arizona Symphony of the Southwest / Tempe Symphonic Wind Ensemble<

John Sheets Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orchestra* Joined: 22 May 2007 Location: Metro Detroit Online Status: Offline Posts: 891	Quote Reply Posted: 10 Mar 2010 at 11:47
	I'll second that the performing venue is fantastic. I just thought about this while reading this. Derek I can't believe it's been a year since I was there. How time flies when you have an infant! I'd kill to play in that venue! I truly enjoyed your ensemble's performance Derek and eagerly await another opportunity to get back out there.
	"Trombones; damn it! Not breaking that musical phrase is far more important then your having to breath! - Jim Skura director of my community band.

Derek Reaban Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orchestra* Joined: 06 Jun 2007 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 650	Quote Reply Posted: 10 Mar 2010 at 11:57
	John, Hard to believe it's been a year already. Time really does fly. We'll certainly get together the next time that you're in town (with no pesky cane to slow you down!). The opening of the Don Quixote Suite (actually the 3rd movement but we took them in reverse order) is for solo bassoon. When I asked my 7 year old what part of the concert he liked, he said, "What's the name of the red instrument with the white circle on top? I really liked that part!" Clearly he liked the Don Quixote!
	Derek Reaban Tempe, Arizona Symphony of the Southwest / Tempe Symphonic Wind Ensemble<

John Sheets Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orchestra* Joined: 22 May 2007 Location: Metro Detroit Online Status: Offline Posts: 891	Quote Reply Posted: 11 Mar 2010 at 09:19
	How cool! Basoon is an interesting instrument and can sound very good. I'm glad to hear he enjoyed it. All my travel this year has been east coast. D.C. and what not. I'm hoping to get to Las Vegas in May that might be as close as I get to you this year; and that's a hike to say the least! Here's to hoping I can get back to Pheonix soon!
	"Trombones; damn it! Not breaking that musical phrase is far more important then your having to breath! - Jim Skura director of my community band.

Glenn Roberts Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 21 May 2007 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 1137	Quote Reply Posted: 11 Mar 2010 at 10:45
	Sorry I haven't seen this until today, Derek. Sounds like it was a great gig. It would be a neat opportunity for us with our wind ensemble to try this. I'll pitch it to our board & see where it goes. Some of them are a bit difficult to persuade when it comes to ideas like this, but I'll give it a shot.
	"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in Nature...Life is either daring adventure or nothing." Helen Keller[

Derek Reaban Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orchestra* Joined: 06 Jun 2007 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 650	Quote Reply Posted: 11 Mar 2010 at 14:05
	Very good Glenn. If it happens in a future season, I'm sure you'll experience something very similar to what I did. Most of the guys in the trumpet section are high school band directors, and I got to see the one of these players in his role as a conductor and hear his band. That was neat to see the different hats that we all wear (I've only known him as a section player in this group), and see him step out to take the leadership position. If you need any suggestions on what went into this, you could contact Michael Willson on the link that I provided to the wind ensemble. I think the key was to position the festival close to other spring music contests, because the bands were all playing at a very high level.
	Derek Reaban Tempe, Arizona Symphony of the Southwest / Tempe Symphonic Wind Ensemble<