2020-2021 Concert Season
Storied Chamber Winds Concert Percussion Concert Band Symphonic Band Wind Ensemble
Emma Angoli, Conductor
Greenwald Foundation PAC Streaming on Mukwonago Bands YouTube Monday | March 15 | 5:30pm & 7:30pm
5:30
Program
Chamber Winds In Seizing the Distant Light (2015) Frequency (2018)
Naoya Wada b. 1986 Herman Beeftink b. 1953
Concert Percussion On Thin Air (2020)
John Willmarth b. 1974
Concert Band The Legend of Boudica (2018)
Mekel Rogers b. 1972
Hercules vs. the Hydra (2013)
Scott Watson b. 1962
The Adventure Begins! (2015)
Matt Conaway b. 1979
Due to copyright and privacy laws: You may not publicly display or post recordings (YouTube, Facebook, etc.) of any part of this program. If recording, please be considerate of those around you by choosing seats that reduce the chance that a recording device will distract from the performance experience of other audience members.
7:30
Program
Concert Percussion Orchestrations of the Underground (2015/2017)
Toby Fox b. 1991 arr. Kirk J. Gay
Chamber Winds Rhosymedre (1920/2011)
Ralph Vaughn Williams (1872-1958) trans. Matt Johnston
Symphonic Band Yonaguska (2016)
William Owens b. 1963
Beyond the Shores of Avalon (2020) The Dark Waters (2016)
Jeremy Bell b. 1986 Matt Conaway b. 1979
Wind Ensemble Einherjar (2017) This Cruel Moon (2017) StarCatchers (2016)
Jeremy Bell b. 1986 John Mackey b. 1973 Nathan Daughtrey b. 1975
Program Notes In Seizing the Distant Light (2015)
Naoya Wada b. 1986
Naoya Wada was born in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan in 1986. As an internationally recognized composer, he has been commissioned numerous times to write for band, ensembles, and radio programs, and often works as a guest conductor and clinician. He is the few Japanese composers making significant contributions to educational band music; In Seizing the Distant Light being a strong example of his writing for flexible instrumentation. The title’s "Distant Light" is not a specific entity, rather it's the guiding light that compels us towards the attainment of our various hopes and desires. This piece is dedicated to bass clarinetist Julia Kinoshita, for her inspiration to create this music. (Program Notes by Naoya Wada) Frequency (2018)
Herman Beeftink b. 1953
Dutch-American composer Herman Beeftink studied classical piano before moving to Los Angeles and getting involved in the jazz scene. He later gradually transitioned to from being a studio musician to composing music for film/ television. In Frequency, Beeftink makes use of imitation of simple themes which when layered create more complex polyphonic textures, giving the music an almost electronic quality. (Program Notes by Rick Schadt) On Thin Air (2020)
John Willmarth b. 1974
Composed during the COVID-19 period of quarantine, On Thin Air depicts what I imagine it would be like to fly. The music evokes a sense of gliding, breathtaking views, and soaring above the clouds. I hope the listener experiences a sense of freedom, hopefulness, and wonder. (Program Notes by John Willmarth)
The Legend of Boudica (2018)
Mekel Rogers b. 1972
In the year 60 C.E., a Celtic queen named Boudica led a revolt against the Roman occupation of Britannia (modern day England). Boudica and her tribe, the Iceni, burned and destroyed several cities including Londinium before they were finally defeated. Today Boudica is remembered as an important figure in British history and is commemorated by a large bronze statue on the Westminster Bridge in London. (Program Notes by Mekel Rogers) Hercules vs. the Hydra (2013)
Scott Watson b. 1962
The Greek hero, Hercules, was sentenced by the Gods to endure 12 seemingly impossible “labors” in order to redeem himself. Hercules vs. the Hydra portrays the second of theses tests; his battle with a nine-headed water serpent with deadly venom and the ability to grow back two heads for every one cut off! The piece begins with the Hydra’s half-step motive, which quickly builds and multiplies into the music of an epic fight. The blows of Hercules’ club and sword , rhythmic accents in the music, land hard on the beast but to no avail. Hercules regroups to a slow, hopeful theme, encouraged as his nephew Iolaus shares the secret to defeating the Hydra. Hercules rejoins the contest with new resolve, reflected in the exciting merging of two of the piece’s themes, which lead to a victorious climax! (Program Notes by Scott Watson) The Adventure Begins! (2015)
Matt Conaway b. 1979
The Adventure Begins! Is surprisingly straightforward and unabashedly cheerful. I was happy when I wrote it, and happy music was the result. This composition simply reflects my delight in traveling to new places and allowing myself to take in the sights and sounds of somewhere I haven’t been, but will remember forever. It was written immediately after finding out I was given the opportunity to travel to Europe conducting and performing with our university band and orchestra. Every trip is an adventure, and I hope this kind of joy never fades or becomes jaded with time. (Program Notes by Matt Conaway)
Orchestrations of the Underground (2015/2017)
Toby Fox b. 1991 arr. Kirk J. Gay
Undertale is a role-playing video game created by indie developer Toby Fox. Outside of some artwork, Fox developed the entirety of the game by himself, including the script and music. The player controls a child who has fallen into the Underground: a large, secluded region under the surface of the Earth, separated by a magic barrier. The player meets various monsters during the journey back to the surface. Some monsters might engage the player in a fight. They can opt to pacify or subdue monsters in order to spare them instead of killing them. These choices affect the game, with the dialogue, characters, and story changing based on outcomes. This arrangement for percussion ensemble includes themes from “His Theme”, “Spear of Justice”, and “Meglovania”. (Program Notes by Wikipedia) Rhosymedre (1920/2011)
Ralph Vaughn Williams (1872-1958) trans. Matt Johnston
In 1920 Ralph Vaughan Williams composed three preludes for organ based on Welsh hymn tunes, a set that quickly established itself in the organ repertoire. Of the three, Rhosymedre, sometimes known as "Lovely," has become the most popular. This transcription takes advantage of the homogeneity of the clarinet choir. (Program Notes by Walter Beeler & United Music) Yonaguska (2016)
William Owens b. 1963
Yonaguska (Drowning Bear) was a Cherokee chief known for peacefully resisting United States attempts to relocate the Oconaluftee Cherokee in North Carolina to the Oklahoma Territory in contravention of the Treaty of 1819. His work resulted in the Oconaluftee being recognized as citizens of North Carolina. Yonaguska is also known for fighting the detrimental effects of whiskey on his people through temperance reform policies. Mount Yonaguska in Western North Carolina is named in his honor. (Program Notes by William Owens)
Beyond the Shores of Avalon (2020)
Jeremy Bell b. 1986
In the legend of King Arthur, Avalon is a mythical island where Arthur’s body was taken to be laid to rest after being mortally wounded by Mordred at the battle of Camlann. It is also home to the powerful Enchantress Morgan le Fay and where some versions of the legend say the sword Excalibur was forged. Beyond the Shores of Avalon takes the listener on a musical journey to this magical sanctuary, a place of beauty and mystery. Avalon was the home to many powerful enchantresses and other magical queens. The island, shrouded in mist, is said to be a utopian paradise full of grapevines, grain plants, and where apples grow year-round. It is sometimes referred to as “the island of apples”, as the name is taken from the Breton word for the fruit, “aval”. (Program Notes by Jeremy Bell) The Dark Waters (2016)
Matt Conaway b. 1979
The Dark Waters revolves around the rivers of the underworld in Greek mythology, the rivers separating the land of the living from the afterlife. The most famous of these is the River Styx, typically represented alongside the ferryman Charon, who would accept payment in return for carrying the souls of the recently deceased across the dark waters. (Program Notes by Matt Conaway) Einherjar (2017)
Jeremy Bell b. 1986
In Norse mythology, warriors that died in combat were either chosen by Odin to enter Valhalla to feast eternally and prepare for Ragnarok or went to the field Fólkvangr ruled by the goddess Freyja. Those that were chosen to enter Valhalla were known as the Einherjar (“en-Hair-yee-are”). This piece evokes the courage, strength, and valor of those viking soldiers with its heroic sound characterized by heavy accents, aggressive percussion, and driving ostinatos. (Program Notes by Jeremy Bell)
This Cruel Moon (2017)
John Mackey b. 1973
This piece is an adaptation of the middle movement of "Wine-Dark Sea: Symphony for Band." The full symphony tells the tale of Odysseus and his journey home following his victory in the Trojan War. But Odysseus' journey would take as long as the war itself. Homer called the ocean on which Odysseus sailed a wine-dark sea, and for the Greek king it was as murky and disorienting as its name; he would not find his way across it without first losing himself. “This Cruel Moon” is the song of the beautiful and immortal nymph Kalypso, who finds Odysseus near death, washed up on the shore of the island where she lives all alone. She nurses him back to health, and sings as she moves back and forth with a golden shuttle at her loom. Odysseus shares her bed; seven years pass. The tapestry she began when she nursed him becomes a record of their love. But one day Odysseus remembers his home. He tells Kalypso he wants to leave her, to return to his wife and son. He scoffs at all she has given him. Kalypso is heartbroken. And yet, that night, Kalypso again paces at her loom. She unravels her tapestry and weaves it into a sail for Odysseus. In the morning, she shows Odysseus a raft, equipped with the sail she has made and stocked with bread and wine, and calls up a gentle and steady wind to carry him home. Shattered, she watches him go; he does not look back. (Program Notes by John Mackey) StarCatchers (2016)
Nathan Daughtrey b. 1975
StarCatchers was inspired by the young fiction series “Peter and the Starcatchers” by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson, which explores the younger adventures of Peter Pan that took place before he met the Darling family as told by J.M. Barrie. It is meant to capture the innocence, adventure, and wonderment experienced by Peter, Molly, & the lost boys as they travel around in search of the magical “star stuff ” to keep it out of the grips of the evil pirate Black Stache (whose darkness makes an appearance with alternating measures of 4/4 and 7/8 as well as special vocal effects throughout the ensemble.) Let your imagination run wild! (Program Notes by Nathan Daughtrey)
Concert Band Due to the importance of every part, students are listed alphabetically.
Flute Alto Sax Juliana Anderson Nick Allen Rylee Georgenson Thomas Brunow Callie Massa Alyssa Henning Erin Rosenthal Jessica Howell Sophia Silkworth Dylan Ragon Jamie Stephan Tatianna Schommer-Barrera Elizabeth Sellers Clarinet Tyler Bachaus Tenor Saxophone Cailyn Bednarek Matthew Ciampa Olivia Carey Parker Paulson Grace Hinterlong Ava Pellegrino Bari Saxophone Alaina Talaska Gavin Flaherty Jordan Wells Trumpet Bass Clarinet Eli Abraham Ariana Alcala Jacob Chilicki Lucas Higbee Ivy Connor Kristina McGregor Danica Day Gabe Jopp Sheen Mathia Sofia Panfil Alexander Peppler Zach Plestina Ava Tehan-Hanson
Trombone Mailen Fingland Danica Jenna Sawyer Schieffer Tuba Elena Koos Percussion Sean Braun Anna DeLeon Charlie Essmann Alex Fritz Matthew Janson Logan Poser Claire Schiek
Symphonic Band Due to the importance of every part, students are listed alphabetically.
Flute Emily Henrichs Emily Lund Andrew Seiske Sydney Swenor Clarinet Madison Husted Katie Kaczinski Grace Lochowicz Kiersten Martin Claire Wright Bass Clarinet Josh Peterson Bassoon Sierra Huser
Alto Saxophone Michael Kaczinski Jaylen Korth Brynn Schmitz-Guy
Trombone Gabriel Pett Gavin Schultz Aaron Sweetman
Tenor Saxophone Ellie Huebner Michael Sadowski
Tuba Luke Treutelaar David Winiarski
Bari Saxophone Kasey Kubash Wyatt Scheier
Percussion Amelia Boerger Jeremy Boutin Andy Brandt Alex DeLeon Matt Jolliffe Ryan O’Connor Cameron Wilke
Trumpet Charlie Jefferson Dylan Osvatic Alissa Schwichtenberg Caleb Turk
Wind Ensemble Due to the importance of every part, students are listed alphabetically.
Flute Patience Henry Madeline Murphy Sarah Ullrich Paige Wilde
Alto Saxophone Julian Barlow Grace Kearney McKenna Sherrod Ethan Winkelman
Oboe Andie Barron Amelia Boerger
Tenor Saxophone Diego Foley Nick Rabiego
Clarinet Brooke Conner Kaylyn Geuder Lauren Jakab Samantha Kohlmann Alexa Matson Bass Clarinet Kira Goldbach
Bari Saxophone Aiden McKenzie Zackary Simonson Trumpet Matthew Bloom Hugh Wesselhoff Lauren Wilke
Trombone Maya Barron Joshua Stobbe Baritone Andrew Blum Ariana Hanrahan Kyle Pate Tuba Ed Pilon David Savignac Percussion Jeremy Cotturone Emma Libecki Kendal Schreiber Nathan Starr Olivia Trapp
One Year Later… When the COVID-19 Pandemic first hit last Spring, little did we know how much life would change. Classes moved online, extracurricular activities were put on hold, and concerts & performances were cancelled. Our hearts broke for our students (especially seniors) who missed out on so much during those last few months of the school year. Here we are, nearly one year later. It is unlikely that anyone would refer to our current situation as “normal life”, but we still feel so fortunate for what we have here in Mukwonago. While many school music & fine arts programs around the country were moved to a virtual format (or paused indefinitely), Mukwonago was able to find a way for students to not only safely rehearse together in school, but for them to still perform for audiences. None of this (including tonight’s concert) would have been possible had it not been for some very dedicated and hard-working individuals. Without the incredible levels of support and trust (not to mention countless extra hours put in beyond what is expected) displayed by these people, we would not be here performing for you tonight. To the MASD Administrative Team and PAC Staff, Crew, & Volunteers - thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
! u o Y Thank MASD Administration Joseph Coldwell PAC Technical Director
Carmen Scott PAC House Manager & Technical Assistant
PAC Usher Corps PAC Student Crew
Upcoming Events Date
Time
Event
Location
Mar 15
5:30pm 7:30pm
MHS Bands Concert
Greenwald PAC
Apr 16
7:00pm
2nd Annual Drumming for a Difference Concert
MHS West Gym
Apr 17
7:00pm
Blue2 Winterguard Showcase Performance
MHS West Gym
Apr 19
N/A
Virtual Solo & Ensemble Deadline (District)
Apr 21
TBA
Blue2 Percussion Recital Concert
TBA
Apr 28
TBA
Blue2 Winds Recital Concert
TBA
May 6
7:30pm
Blue2 Winds Showcase Concert
TBA
May 7
N/A
Virtual Solo & Ensemble Deadline (State)
May 13
7:00pm
MHS/PVMS Combined Jazz Concert
Greenwald PAC
May 15
7:00pm
Blue2 Percussion Showcase Concert
West Gym
May 19
TBA
MHS Bands Finale Concert
Greenwald PAC
For more information on upcoming events, visit our website: www.mukwonagobands.org
MFAB
What We Do We support the arts in the Mukwonago Area School District through volunteerism, fundraising, and advocacy. Membership Dues Membership Dues support around 25% of the MFAB budget. There are options available for every family ($30, $60, or $90) and a business membership option ($250) for our community partners. Note that some funding for each individual art is based on the percentage of families it has registered for MFAB. Simply by signing up, you are supporting your student! How Can You Join? https://www.mukwonagofineartsboosters.com/get-involved Want to Become More Involved? Attend a meeting! Meetings are the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm via Zoom. The meeting link can be found at: https://www.mukwonagofineartsboosters.com/get-involved
MFAB Sulla Cima Members The Bloom Family The Brandt Family Czeshinski Family The D'Amour Family The Fleischer Family Dan & Dawn Henkhaus
The Kaczinski Family David and Jenifer Mersfelder The Myers Family Chris and Katy O’Connor Oftedahl Family The Panetta Family
Pett Family The Shaffer Family The Simonson Family The Turk Family The Wilhelm Family
MFAB Sulla Cima Business Members Kyle & Kristin Christensen
For more information on upcoming events, visit our website: www.mukwonagofineartsboosters.com
Special Thanks MASD Board of Education Shawn McNulty, MASD Superintendent Stephanie Blue, Director of Student Learning Tom Karthausser, Director of Business Affairs Ben Kossow, Coordinator of Student Assessment Data and Analysis Christine Bowden, Director of Pupil Services Dustin Lehman, Coordinator of College and Career Readiness Susan Muenter, Director of Human Resources Andy Wegner, District Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds Jim Darin, MHS Principal Sarah Dianich, & Stephanie Krenz, MHS Associate Principals William Plant, MHS Dean of Students Andy Trudell, MHS Activities Director Dean Kovnesky, MHS Head Custodian MHS Custodial Staff PJ Uhazie, MHS Choir Director Lori Wildemann, PVMS Choir Director Julie Hanisch, MHS Drama Director Dale Wimer and Alexa Zakutansky, MHS Orchestra Directors Sarah Oftedahl, PVMS Orchestra Director Amanda Caretta-Hull, Nyla Clements & Ben Warrichaiet, MES Band Directors Emilee Deck, Kathy Doty, Adam Hackbarth & Caryn Ruesch, MES Music Teachers Joseph Coldwell, PAC Technical Coordinator Carmen Scott, PAC House Manager & Technical Assistant PAC Usher Corps PAC Student Crew JoAnn Barkley, District Printing Mukwonago Fine Arts Boosters