University Concert Band
Chandler L. Wilson, Conductor
Ashley Deane and Andrew Dubbert, Graduate Associate Conductors and
University Symphonic Band
Steven N. Kelly, Conductor
Jason Freeman and Jacquelyn Tabone, Graduate Associate Conductors
Monday, October 10, 2022 7:30 p.m. | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
To Ensure An Enjoyable Concert Experience For All…
Please refrain from talking, entering, or exiting during performances. Food and drink are prohibited in all concert halls. Recording or broadcasting of the concert by any means, including the use of digital cameras, cell phones, or other devices is expressly forbidden. Please deactivate all portable electronic devices including watches, cell phones, pagers, hand-held gaming devices or other electronic equipment that may distract the audience or performers.
Recording Notice: This performance may be recorded. Please note that members of the audience may at times be included in this process. By attending this performance you consent to have your image or likeness appear in any live or recorded video or other transmission or reproduction made in conjunction to the performance.
Health Reminder: The Florida Board of Governors and Florida State University expect masks to be worn by all individuals in all FSU facilities.
Florida State University provides accommodations for persons with disabilities. Please notify the College of Music at (850) 644-3424 at least five working days prior to a musical event to request accommodation for disability or alternative program format.
PROGRAM
University Concert Band
Chandler L. Wilson, Conductor
Ashley Deane and Andrew Dubbert, Graduate Associate Conductors
Fanfare Forza Brian Balmages (b. 1975)
Downey Overture
Oscar Navarro (b. 1981)
Play! Carl Holmquist (b. 1983)
Ashley Deane, graduate associate conductor
Nocturne Alexander Scriabin arr. Reed (1872–1915)
Andrew Dubbert, graduate associate conductor
Lord of the Rings: Gandolf
The Sinfonians
Johan de Meij (b. 1953)
Clifton Williams (1923–1976)
Gavorkna Fanfare
University Symphonic Band
Steven N. Kelly, Conductor
Jason Freeman and Jacquelyn Tabone, Graduate Associate Conductors
Jack Stamp (b. 1954)
Sunrise at Angel’s Gate Phillip Sparke (b. 1951)
American Hymnsong Suite Dwayne Milburn
I. Prelude - Wondrous Love (b. 1963)
II. Ballad - Balm in Gilead
III. Scherzo - Nettleton (Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing)
IV. March - Wilson (When We All Get to Heaven)
Jason Freeman, graduate associate conductor
Hymn for the Innocent Julie Giroux (b. 1961)
Jacquelyn Tabone, graduate associate conductor
La Fiesta Mexicana H. Owen Reed
II. Mass (1910–2014)
III. Carnival
NOTES ON THE PROGRAM
Balmages – Fanfare Forza
Brian Balmages is a well-known conductor and composer of not only the band world, but the orchestral and chamber music worlds as well. He received the Bachelor’s degree from James Madison University. He then went on to the University of Miami where he studied for the Master’s degree. Currently he is the Assistant Director of Bands and Orchestras at Towson University and the Director of Instrumental Publications at the FJH Music Company. He was the recipient of the 2020 NBA William D. Rebellions Composition Contest, the A. Austin Harding Award, and the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award.
Fanfare Forza is an exciting fanfare that builds anticipation as it dramatically unfolds. Opening with heroic trumpet lines that are quickly joined by the rest of the brass and building into the first full band passage in a grand manner. Rhythmic lines interweave with soaring melodic lines to inspire a range of emotions in the listener. Fanfare Forza is a powerful opening piece that we hope you enjoy!
Navarro – Downey Overture
Oscar Navarro (b. 1981, Novelda, Spain) is a Spanish composer. Navarro started his musical studies young in elementary winning the Extraordinary Prize during his elementary years. Navarro began studying clarinet at the Conservatorio Superior Oscar Espla in Alicante, Spain where he received the bachelor’s degree. He then went on to study and conduct at the Allegro International Music Academy in Valencia. After his time there he was selected to specialize in Composition for Film and TV at the University of Southern California (Los Angeles). He has received numerous national and international awards for his composition and his music has been commissioned and performed in recording studios and performance halls across the globe.
The composer writes about his piece,
Downey Overture is dedicated with all my affection to the Downey Symphony Orchestra, for its hard work and dedication, and, of course, to its conductor, Sharon Lavery, for her professionalism and great passion for music. Downey Overture is a Latin-American fusion with which I have wanted to link my birth country, Spain, and California, the land that, as a result of the two years I lived there, has left a permanent imprint on my heart. An amalgam of rhythm and musical color wrapped in an atmosphere of dance are the essence of this piece. It is joyful, energetic and written with all my enthusiasm and dedication.
Holmquist – Play!
Carl Holmquist (b. 30 April 1983, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico) is an American composer, conductor, and music educator. He received the Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from St. Olaf College and the Masters of Music in Instrumental Conducting from George Mason University. Currently he is the Director of Bands and Chair of the Fine Arts Department at the H- B Woodlawn Secondary Program in Arlington, Virginia. Mr. Holmquist also maintains a full slate of appearances as a guest composer, clinician, and conductor at various ensembles across the country. He lives in Annandale, Virginia, with his wife Elizabeth, and his two sons, William and Nathan. They enjoy exploring Washington D.C. and hiking with their family dog, Mellby.
Play! was the winning composition in the 2006 Claude T. Smith Memorial Band Composition Contest, which is a national competition limited to composers under 27 years old. Originally thought of as the final movement of Symphony No. 1: A New Orleans Symphony the composer decided to release Play! as its own stand-alone piece. In the original symphony each of the four movements depicts a different New Orleans beginning with a lively city before Hurricane Katrina hit. The hymn tune “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” appears in this movement and throughout the symphony to show this side of New Orleans. In the second movement, Storm, threatening and contentious musical lines lead to the depiction of the levee failing and the city being flooded at the end. The third movement takes the hymn tune and twists it from a hopeful sound to solemn and mournful to express the emotions of the city in the immediate aftermath of the storm. In the beginning of Play! we hear a solo clarinet starting the way back to the lively New Orleans as the city is working to resurrect from the damage. When “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” returns, it is once again hopeful and triumphant. Play! seeks to encapsulate the very meaning of the word. A state of joy, excitement, and innocence. The composer describes the piece as “six minutes of pure motion,” much like a child at play or a city once again resurrected after disaster.
Scriabin – Nocturne, Op. 9, No. 2
Alexander Scriabin, born of Russian descent, was a composer and pianist who studied at the Moscow Conservatory. In St. Petersburg of 1894, he launched his piano performance and composing debut as he performed his own works. In 1898 he continued his composing career at Moscow Conservatory as a professor and began to establish his own dissonant-sounding scale. While Scriabin’s works were influenced by Chopin, he became identified as one of the major pianist-composers of the Russian Silver Age. Although his controversial harmonic style, highlighted by his unique circle of fifths, was highly influential to numerous composers such as Stravinsky, Prokofiev and Roslavets. Many works including his piano contributions have begun to regain their popularity since the 1970s.
Nocturne resides in Scriabin’s tonal repertoire and was originally composed for the left hand on the piano after he sustained an injury. Scriabin was fascinated with synesthesia which refers to a phenomenon where one sense is experienced through another, such as hearing music and seeing shapes. Keeping with this idea, Scriabin wanted Nocturne to promote a feeling of tranquility and a dreamlike demeanor. Alfred Reed’s arrangement exercises the full capacity of the wind band all while highlighting the dolce capabilities of the clarinet in a melodic and cadenza-like context.
de Meij – Lord of the Rings: Gandolf
Johan de Meij is an award-winning composer who resides in the United States. His works extend from original compositions to transcriptions of film scores and musicals. As a trombonist, de Meij has several notable concertos written for tenor voiced instruments such as Casanova for Cello, UFO Concerto for Euphonium, and the cleverly named T-Bone Concerto for Trombone. Internationally, De Meij is an active performer, conductor, and clinician inspiring musicians of all ages.
The movement Gandolf is a selection from De Meij’s Symphony No. 1, Lord of the Rings, inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings novels. Written between 1984 and 1987, Symphony No. 1 contains five movements, each depicting a character or episode from the book trilogy. Movement 1 depicts Gandolf the Wizard, the leader of the Fellowship of the Ring, which is a group that vows to protect Frodo as he travels to destroy an evil ring. The movement opens with a prominent yet mysterious theme that becomes a recurring motif in the later movements. De Meij allows the
listeners’ imagination to visualize Gandolf on a fast ride on his horse, Shadowfax, and a dominant display of magic at the climax of the movement. Every bit of Gandolf’s wisdom, power, and nobility are captured in this movement and it serves as an attention-grabbing foundation for a beloved symphony.
Williams – The Sinfonians
Clifton Williams was an American composer and professional French horn player who received the Bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and the Master’s degree from Eastman School of Music. While a member of various orchestras and the Army Air Corps, Williams began composing and later joined the composition department at the University of Texas School of Music, followed by the same department at the University of Miami. While he taught composers like Francis McBeth and John Barnes Chance, he won many awards, notably for Fanfare and Allegro, his first wind band composition, and Symphonic Suite, which won the Ostwald Award in consecutive years. Among the membership of the American Bandmasters Association, Williams was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, National Fraternity of America.
In 1960, Williams was commissioned by the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America to compose several works for the fraternity. Among the works was The Sinfonians, which he went on to premiere at the 1960 national convention in Cincinnati, Ohio. Williams adapted the “Hail Sinfonia” melody from Sullivans’ The Pirates of Penzance. This melody is first established in the French horns and repeated in several variations throughout the work. Serving as a precursor to the trio-like section of this symphonic march, a solo piccolo is accompanied by a snare drum, then repeated in the flute section with trombone accompaniment. To close with an optional chorus, Williams highlighted the words to the Sinfonain theme: “Hail Sinfonia! Come, brothers, Hail!”
Stamp – Gavorkna Fanfare
Jack Stamp is currently a visiting professor of music at Luther College after recently retiring from his position as Professor of Music and Director of Band Studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In 2000 he was inducted into the American Bandmasters Association.
Gavorkna was composed for and dedicated to Eugene Corporon and the University of Cincinnati College –Conservatory of Music Wind Symphony. The work utilizes the full band in an exciting fanfare with dissonance, suspense, and layering of simple rhythms to create a variety of textures.
Sparke – Sunrise at Angel’s Gate
Phillip Sparke was born in London and studied composition, trumpet, and piano at the Royal College of Music. While attending school, he wrote and performed in the wind orchestra and the brass band. He is currently conducting and adjudicating events in most European countries, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and several more.
Sunrise at Angel’s Gate is a programmatic piece that takes listeners to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon where a rock structure known as Angel’s Gate is located. At dawn, the sun slowly rises and reveals the magnificent canyon below. This piece was composed for the United States Army Field Band.
Milburn – American Hymnsong Suite
Dwayne Milburn is currently a Lecturer in Music at the University of California at Los Angeles after completing twenty years with the U.S. Army Music Program as a commissioned officer.
American Hymnsong Suite features four of America’s greatest hymntunes. The first movement, Prelude on Wondrous Love, opens with a chant-like statement in the euphoniums before proceeding to an energetic setting. The Ballad on Balm in Gilead features a jazz harmonization of this familiar spiritual. Scherzo on Nettleton (Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing) provides rhythmic playfulness throughout. The piece concludes with March on Wilson (When We All Get to Heaven), which features many textures and contemporary harmonies.
Giroux – Hymn for the Innocent
Julie Giroux, a graduate from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, started playing and composing from her early childhood. She published her first work for concert band at the age of 13. She is well known for her film, television, and video game compositions and has been nominated for Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, and Golden Globe award. When she won her first Emmy, she was the first woman and the youngest person to ever win that award and she has won three total.
Hymn for the Innocent is a tribute to all the innocent lives that are lost whether by accident, disease or acts of violence. It also includes all those who serve, here and abroad, military, and domestic who have sworn to protect the innocent and have lost their lives or lead a handicapped life because of this service. This hymn is to mourn the time lost by these individuals and for their loved ones left behind.
Reed – La Fiesta Mexicana
H. Owen Reed was an American composer, conductor, and author. He attended Eastman School of Music and earned a PhD. in composition and continued his studies at Berkshire Music Center (Tanglewood) in Massachusetts. He spent 40 years of his career at Michigan State College and was granted the little of Professor Emeritus.
We will begin the performance of this piece with the second movement, Mass, which opens with the tolling of the chimes reminiscent of church bells, highlighting the Fiesta is a religious celebration. The rich and poor slowly gather within the walls of the old cathedral for contemplation and worship. Mexico is at its best on the days of the Fiesta in which passion governs the love, hate and joy of the Mestizo and the Indio. The third movement, Carnival, reflects the entertainment for both young and old — the itinerant circus, the market, the bullfight, the town band, and always the cantinas with their band of mariachis.
University Concert Band Personnel
Chandler L. Wilson, Conductor
Deane and Andrew Dubbert, Graduate Associate Conductors
Piccolo
Heeso Han
Flute
Elizabeth Dunsmoor Jas Fennell-Hawkins Miranda Frank Nicki Howard Talley Powell*
Oboe/English Horn Saylor Smith*
Oboe
Alejandro Lopez Lily Owen Bassoon Sean Faletti Lyx Teets
B-Flat Clarinet
Regan Gomersall Claire Huggins Eric Olmsted Elijah Rowe Tyler Smith Ryan Tone Marie Yonts
Bass Clarinet Elizabeth Kennedy
Alto/Soprano Saxophone
Christian Magar
Alto Saxophone
Casey Caulkins Mackenzie Meiers Riley Nauman Gabriel Ortiz
Tenor Saxophone Arwyn Hill Brianne Yates
Baritone Saxophone Brody Stump
Trumpet
John Bradley* Joshua Briley Katherine Hatfield Kai Okamoto Grason Peterson Jonathan Tordi* Kye Turner Horn Ashlie Green* Anna Leach Clare Ottesen* Sam Rivera Senanu Simpson Hailey Swanson Brody Vallin
Trombone
Tyler Berman Tyler Butler Samuel Cote Frank Hobbs Greg Lambert Justus Smith
Bass Trombone/Piano Grace Smith
Euphonium
Cale Bazley * Yasha Foster
Tuba Alden Cruz Xavier Gauthier Michael Levanti Collier McBride Allie Nutting Sam Williams*
Percussion Greg Banaska Britt Gummerman
Joshua Hamburger Raegan O’Rourke Ruth Pierre Anthony Ruffin*
Symphonic Band Personnel
Steven N. Kelly, Conductor
Jason Freeman and Jacquelyn Tabone, Graduate Associate Conductors
Piccolo
Renee Roberts
Flute
Mary Moshos* Javier Rivera Raul Parra
Taylor Hawkins
Oboe Samantha Osborne* Alice Frisch
Maddy Jenkins Bassoon Hunter Fisher Hannah Farmer Lalo Ambris Clarinet Ethan Burke* Anna Urbine Nicholas Mackley Abby Johnson Halle Mynard Alexei Kovalev Ryan Brabham
Bass Clarinet
Evan Jewsbury
Saxophone
Kaeden Parks*
Pauly Herrera
Tyler Welch Jack Blumer Nicholas Lohse Pollyena Perry Marshall Knapp
Trumpet/Cornet Danielle Monahan* Jordyn Myers* Brian Ratledge Joshua Puente Aiden Kingry Sharavan Duvvuri Marin Kelly Horn Isaac Roman* Adam Agonoy* Sarah Meza Abby Odom Allison Kirkpatrick Rita Cesare-DeGroat
Trombone
Connor Stross* Sarah Castillo Mateo Buitrago Jane Cohen
Hadyn Lopez Romus Edenfield IV
Tyler Figenscher
Kyle Krogol
Euphonium
Alan Jean-Baptiste* Elizabeth Reese
Tuba
Daniel Sullivan* Sophia Farfante Chris Bernhardt Braden Meyer Harp Isabelle Scott
Percussion Jonathan Baker* Kenneth Sharkey Andrik Molina Mackenzie Selimi Britt Gummerman Anthony Ruffin
*Principal