More than 100 high school musicians will unite at Concordia College this weekend, March 27-29, to learn, play, rehearse, and perform together at the Concordia High School Honor Band and Honor Jazz Band Festival.
The festival allows students to play challenging music outside their high school ensembles, participate in expert-led masterclasses, and perform with highly skilled student musicians from other schools.
“There are multiple things that students can learn through participating in this event. I think the two most important aspects are collaboration and focus,” said Malcolm Burke, visiting professor at Concordia. “Students from several different states work together to put on a full-length performance all within two days. In the honor band, if possible, they rotate seats, so students get to connect with most of the section during the weekend.”
Burke, a doctoral candidate in wind conducting at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, earned a Master of Arts degree in instrumental conducting from the University of Central Florida. Previously, he was director of high school orchestras for five years at Mason City High School in Mason City, Iowa. He is currently serving as interim director of The Concordia Band during Dr. Peter Haberman’s sabbatical.
“I truly enjoy being able to collaborate with people from all different walks of life and be able to create something unique in the moment,” Burke said.
Burke said he is looking forward to having the high school students work with the weekend’s guest musicians in masterclasses, rehearsals, and during performances. They include:
- Adrian B. Sims, guest composer and conductor, is a graduate of the University of Maryland with degrees in music education and composition and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in composition at the University of Texas at Austin. An educator and a trombonist, he has worked in a variety of music camp settings, served as a clinician, and performed in a wide variety of musical ensembles.
- Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, jazz guest artist and saxophonist, has headlined jazz venues and festivals, performed on Grammy-winning albums, toured across the world, and been featured on numerous TV shows.
- Athena Brass, an ensemble of six women drawn from all over the U.S. that includes Dr. Erika Izaguirre, Concordia assistant professor of trumpet and director of Jazz Ensemble II. All six musicians — Dr. Stacy Simpson, Emelie Pfaff, Dr. Danielle VanTuinen, Dr. Karen Marston, Heather Ewer, and Izaguirre — also have extensive histories in music that include performance, education, conducting, and composing.
The Concordia Band will also get to perform for the high school students, not just showing their own skills and talent but sharing a look at music beyond the K-12 classroom with their younger counterparts.
“Many Cobbers demonstrate that you do not need to major in music to participate in music. We have a wide spectrum of majors in each ensemble,” Burke said. “I don’t hear many people regretting playing while in college, but rather they regret not continuing this expressive outlet. Additionally, depending on where you go, various performance and travel opportunities might present themselves. The uniqueness with music is that you can continue into your 90s if you wanted.”
In order to participate in the event, student musicians must submit audition recordings that demonstrate technical and lyrical or expressive musicianship. Percussionists auditioning must show their musicianship on snare drum, timpani, and a mallet instrument.
The Honor Band and Honor Jazz Band will perform at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 29, at the Fargo Air Museum. The performance is free and open to the public.
More
- Concordia Honor Band and Honor Jazz Band
- All-women Athena Brass to play at Concordia for Women’s History Month
- Adrian B. Sims | Chad Lefkowitz-Brown | Athena Brass
- Study Music at Concordia