"The Nature of Trees" a Commission by the IU NBA Chapter Jason H. Nam

"THE NATURE OF TREES" A COMMISSION BY THE IU NBA CHAPTER

ARTICLE BY JASON H. NAM

INDIANA UNIVERSITY BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA

The National Band Association at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (Bloomington, IN), recently completed a project successfully organizing a commission for composer Cait Nishimura to write a new piece for wind band. The NBA-IU worked in collaboration with Indiana University’s Center for Rural Engagement (rural. indiana.edu) in creating a consortiumstyle commissioning agreement with Nishimura, resulting in a truly unique and meaningful relationship with four high school band programs in rural Indiana—Paoli High School (Bill Laughlin and Christian Karkosky, Directors), Salem High School (Bonnie Harmon, Director), Brown County High School (Matt Finley, Director), and Southridge High School (Lannie Butler, Director). A project two years in the making, the collaboration culminated in a sideby-side event in February of 2022 wherein the high school students from Indiana communities of Paoli, Salem, Nashville, and Huntingburg received sectional coaching from IU music students, rehearsals with IU Jacobs School of Music faculty, a side-by-side performance recording session, as well as a virtual Q&A session with the composer. The engagement and outreach to specific rural high school band programs in the state was centered in the spirit of service to these communities. The high school band programs now have their names listed in the printed score of Nishimura’s new grade 3 band piece, The Nature of Trees, and were able to share a meaningfully creative experience in collaboratively working to bring a new piece of music to life. While advised by Dr. Jason H. Nam, faculty sponsor and IU Jacobs School of Music Department of Bands faculty, the consortium project was planned, led, and implemented by outstanding undergraduate music students of the National Band Association student chapter at Indiana University. The student chapter’s efforts were additionally supported by the IU Center for Rural Engagement’s “Quality of Place” initiatives and the Jacobs School of Music’s Office of Entrepreneurship and Career Development. The project was underwritten by an IU Student Foundation Metz Grant.

The IU chapter of The National Band Association aims to promote the excellence of band throughout their community at Indiana University. They encourage the composition of wind literature and assist any

Cait Nishimura, Composer

Jason H. Nam serves as assistant professor of music in bands at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he directs the Concert Band and teaches undergraduate courses in instrumental conducting, administration of school bands, and wind literature.

Nam keeps a busy schedule as a conductor, adjudicator, and clinician across the United States. Nam currently serves on the selection committee for the National Band Association/ William D. Revelli Band Composition Contest and holds professional memberships in the College Band Directors National Association, National Band Association, Indiana Music Education Association, and Pi Kappa Lambda music honor society.

The Nature of Trees, Jason H. Nam, cont.

Group Photo, with Cait Nishimura joining virtually, at the premier event

and all of those interested in band, while seeking to foster relationships between students and faculty within the IU Department of Bands/Wind Conducting.

In the program note to Cait Nishimura’s The Nature of Treess, the composer writes:

"The Nature of Trees is dedicated to everyone in the music education community. To me, The Nature of Treesis love, resilience, patience, strength, adaptability, interconnectedness, and so much more. The nature of trees is to co-create an environment in which everyone can thrive, and I think this is the perfect metaphor for what we do in music education. This piece was commissioned by the National Band Association at Indiana University to be premiered by the IU Concert Band, conducted by Dr. Jason Nam. The students asked me to create a piece that would explore the emotional experience of returning to band after an extended hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I wanted to give them something hopeful, but I also wanted to be honest. This chapter of our lives has been tumultuous, heartbreaking, and transformative; we are not returning to the world we knew before. Writing this piece meant facing these feelings and allowing them to exist alongside gratitude and optimism. And so, this piece includes a wide spectrum of emotions, including moments of joy, yearning, hesitation, nostalgia, and of course, hope."

More information about Cait Nishimura’s works for band can be found at caitnishimura.com.