In spite of a whole lot of travel (more on that below), my most consistent gig this summer was with the Oneonta Community Concert Band. I conducted two concerts (July 5 and July 16), and played in a couple more. Since they were so close together, we recycled most of the repertoire. July 5 was planned as a celebration of the USA at 250, with music from a whole lot of different traditions that have informed American music:
Our Hometown Band – Rene Prins
Nettleton – Traditional, arr. Johnnie Vinson
Cajun Folk Songs (2nd movement) – Frank Ticheli
A Mere Moment – Michele Fernández
Fiddler on the Roof – Jerry Bock
The Queen of Soul – Aretha Franklin
The Incredibles – Michael Giacchino
The Stars and Stripes Forever – John Philip Sousa
We repeated almost exactly the same thing on July 16 (moved indoors because of wildfire smoke), but I substituted in my latest piece, Buccaneers of Buzzards Bay, for the Markowski (sorry, Michael) because I had just finished it!
I also appeared at the New England Band Directors Institute on July 14 and 15! My role was to co-lead a conducting clinic and present a reading session of grade 3-5 music. The rep (with some overlap) consisted of:
Great Unconformity – Ryan Lindveit
Caribana Afterparty – Omar Thomas
Pititi’s Lament – Andrew Pease
Brooklyn Air – Michael Markowski
Love and Nature – Gala Flagello
A Mere Moment – Michele Fernández
Conductors got to work on Brooklyn Air and Metal Monster with myself and Dr. John Hart. We had a great time making music together!
Soon after, despite literal lightning on the tarmac at JFK, I made it to Brazil for the WASBE conference in Rio de Janeiro. I recorded my detailed thoughts on that incredible experience in several daily digests:
In short, Rio was a stunningly beautiful place, and I got to spend my time there listening to incredible bands and carousing with wonderful people from all over the world. Everyone should join WASBE! At the very least, set aside time to come to our 2028 conference in Edmonton!
Speaking of Canada, I got to spend some recreational, non-band time in southern Ontario’s wine country this summer, very close to Niagara-on-the-Lake and its wonderful Shaw Festival (for theater). I highly recommend a visit. I then undertook a personal Odyssey to Ithaca, NY, and the Conn Selmer Institute Northeast at Ithaca College, co-sponsored by the New York State Band Directors Association. (Full disclosure: I remain the Immediate Past President of the NYSBDA). I was honored to be part of the high school band reading session, where I introduced the Directors Band folks to two pieces:
Buccaneers of Buzzards Bay – Andrew Pease (yes, my brand new piece again)
Cynthia Johnston Turner was our main clinician, and she had several great tunes for us, including:
American Overture – Joseph Wilcox Jenkins
As the Fall semester looms, I can’t help but be grateful for this amazing band life. Apart even from all of the amazing music that animates this website, band has taken me all over the world and brought so many incredible people into my life!