In fall 2013, I found myself in an entirely new place. I started my DMA in wind conducting at Arizona State University, studying with Gary Hill, Wayne Bailey, and Timothy Russell. Here’s a look at what the bands played at ASU:
CONCERT BAND (non-auditioned, mostly non-music major undergrads, and my responsibility for the year):
Folk Songs – Tuesday October 8, Evelyn Smith Music Theatre
The Thunderer – John Philip Sousa (guest conducted by Serena Weren)
Yorkshire Ballad – James Barnes
New Wade ‘N Water – Adolphus Hailstork
American Riversongs – Pierre La Plante
Ancient Influences (shared with String Orchestra)- Monday December 2, Evelyn Smith Music Theatre
Brighton Beach – William Latham
Baroque Celebration – Leland Forsblad
Courtly Airs and Dances – Ron Nelson
First Suite in E-flat – Gustav Holst
The other bands on campus are the Wind Ensemble, which is mostly undergrad music majors, and the Wind Orchestra, which is mostly comprised of graduate performance majors. Both were primarily conducted by Wayne Bailey, with some assistance from myself and my fellow DMA wind conducting TA, Serena Weren. Together, they put on three concerts:
Around the World in 80 Minutes – October 1
Wind Ensemble:
Variations on a Korean Folk Song – John Barnes Chance
English Folk Song Suite – Ralph Vaughan Williams
Suite Francaise – Darius Milhaud, conducted by Serena Weren
Wind Orchestra:
Concerto for Nay – Daniel Schnyder
Selected Octets – Alec Wilder
Chamber Music – October 27 (Wind Ensemble only)
Selections for Brass Ensemble – Giovanni Gabrieli and JS Bach
Milonga del Angel – Astor Piazzolla (chamber version)
Selections from Bach Buch – J. S. Bach, transcribed by Carter Pann, conducted by me
Serenade in E-flat – W. A. Mozart, conducted by Serena Weren
From Dusk to Dawn – November 24
Wind Ensemble:
Dusk – Steven Bryant, conducted by me
Wind Orchestra:
Hammersmith Prelude and Scherzo – Gustav Holst, conducted by Serena Weren
Konzertmusik, Opus 41 – Paul Hindemith
I also got to conduct a full reading of Paul Hindemith’s Symphony in B-flat with the wind orchestra, part of a series of rehearsals where we read through pieces that they might encounter in military band auditions.