The Music of HOPE by Amy Midyett

By Amy Midyett Alpha Iota, ΚΚΨ

On April 20, 1999, one of the worst tragedies ever to befall a community surged through Colorado’s Columbine High School. By now, the whole country knows the details of the Columbine shootings, but what is not known is how the Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma families were able to touch the personal side of Columbine and make a difference in the healing process using the precious gift of music.

There was a band concert on the University of Colorado campus the evening after the Columbine shootings. Everyone in the concert hall was just beginning to understand exactly what had happened in Littleton the previous afternoon, and each person was dealing with their feelings in different ways. A few days later, the Alpha Iota Chapter decided unanimously to do something for Columbine. After some discussion, we determined that the best thing we could do was to give our gift of music, so we began looking into commissioning a piece for the Columbine Band.

Our sponsor, Professor Allan McMurray, was having the same ideas and had already contacted Dr. Frank Ticheli at the University of Southern California. Dr. Ticheli, a wellknown composer of band music, was honored to be involved in the process; he graciously put other projects aside to devote his time to our commission. The agreement was set; the chapter had committed to a monumental task, which we hoped to complete solely with the help of our Brothers and Sisters.

Summertime was spent making contacts with other chapters and preparing posters and fliers in preparation for the National Convention in St. Louis. Six members of Alpha Iota traveled to Missouri with nervous hopes of getting support for this commissioning project. The week of the convention was spent meeting brothers and sisters from across the country and making sure everyone knew about the Columbine Commissioning Fund. Everyone had told us that National Convention would be an experience of brotherhood and sisterhood that could not be matched, and it proved to be true. It was so touching to see our fraternal family come together for such an important project. By the time we left the convention, the donations and pledges received totaled almost 70% of our $5,000 goal. It was apparent that we would not need outside help to complete the fund.

Work on the piece had begun by this point. Dr. Ticheli wanted to use the Columbine Alma Mater as a basis, but found that the school did not have an Alma Mater. He quickly wrote one, and it has since been sung at every rehearsal of the Columbine bands. An American Elegy was completed in early winter, and the Columbine Wind Symphony, under the direction of Mr. Bill Biskup, began rehearsing the piece in January of 2000.

The financial side of the Fund was doing well. We were able to pay for the commission by the January 1 deadline, and we received enough money beyond our goal to help with other expenses as well, so that neither the CU nor Columbine Band Departments would be unnecessarily burdened. We were able to get Dr. Ticheli to a few of Columbine’s rehearsals in March, pay for most of the cost of the programs and tickets, and pay for Dr. Ticheli’s stay for the premiere of the piece in April.

Dr. Ticheli’s generosity and dedication to this project did not go unnoticed. The Alpha Iota chapter felt that his gift for music and dedication to better band literature was cause for us to invite him to join our brotherhood. On March 21, 2000, Dr. Frank Ticheli was initiated as an Honorary Brother of Kappa Kappa Psi. After the ceremony we were able to talk with Brother Ticheli and discovered that not only is he a great musician, but a terrific person to be around. If you get the chance to meet him, don’t pass it up.

As we moved into April, with less than a month to go before the concert, there was nothing left to do but nail down the endless number of details. From tickets to the reception, everything seemed to be coming together. We planned a barbecue for our chapter and were very excited when Brother Ticheli and his family wanted to attend. If we had known that he was so good at air hockey, he might not have been invited!

The next day, April 23, was concert day. Just before the concert, we were again able to honor Brother Ticheli with the Kappa Kappa Psi Distinguished Service to Music Medal, presented by Colonel Alan Bonner. Dr. Ticheli was very grateful and proud to receive the honor.

The concert began at 4:00 p.m. in Macky Auditorium. Among the one thousand people supporting the musicians on stage were many of the people that made this concert possible, including several brothers and sisters from the Midwest District. With over 130 musicians on stage, the Columbine Wind Symphony, the CU Wind Symphony and the CU Symphonic Band opened with Remember, written by Beth

Ratay, a flautist in the Columbine band. The entire program was dedicated to the music of youth, and includedChildren’s March by Percy Grainger and Norman Dello Joio’s Childrens Gallery from Scenes from the Louvre. The CU ensembles left the stage for the performance of the new Columbine Alma Mater. Director Bill Biskup spoke of the deep meaning that the hymn held for the members of the Columbine bands and thanked Dr. Ticheli for the extra gift.

Dr. Ticheli took the stage and directed the Columbine Wind Ensemble in the premiere performance of An American Elegy. True to his previous works, Dr. Ticheli had created a deep, meaningful work for the young concert band. The emotions running through the auditorium were overwhelming, and culminated in a performance of Amazing Grace, involving the entire assembly. The arrangement for Mezzo Soprano, three wind ensembles and audience was by Andy Tisdale, an Alpha Iota alumnus.

The Alpha Iota Chapter has found the last year very well spent. We helped in the healing process of a tragedy that hit extremely close to home, helped bring a remarkable new piece of music to the band world, and exemplified the ideals of our fraternity. The thank-you list is long, and we are very grateful for each person and chapter who supported our idea and contributed to the fund. We are especially indebted to the University of Colorado Band Department, the Alpha Iota Commissioning Committee, Col. Alan Bonner, and Dr. Frank Ticheli for their dedication to this project. To the Columbine Bands, we dedicate An American Elegy and all the work and love that went into its creation in the hope that it will help to console and to heal.

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Clockwise from top right: Members of the Alpha Iota Chapter, ΚΚΨ, with (front row, left to right) composer Andy Tisdale, Associate Professor of Bands Dr. Robert Carnochan, Director of Bands Allan McMurray, composer Dr. Frank Tichelli, and ΚΚΨ/ΤΒΣ Executive Director Col. Alan Bonner; Dr. Robert Carnochan directs the Columbine and Colorado University ensembles at the Columbine commemorative concert; Col. Alan Bonner (right) presents Dr. Tichelli with the Kappa Kappa Psi Distinguished Service to Music Medal.