Last spring, the Timber Creek High School Wind Symphony auditioned to be selected to perform an hour-long concert at the Western International Band Clinic (WIBC) Convention in Seattle, Washington. This summer, they were notified that they had been accepted by the selection committee to perform.
“It’s really exciting and quite an honor to have been picked to perform,” says senior trumpet player Chris LeCount.
In order to be selected, a director must upload three pieces or twenty minutes of audition music with contrasting style. Last spring, the Timber Creek Wind Symphony recorded songs from their spring program, along with some improv from their December 2015 concert.
“It feels amazing to have been selected,” Darla McBryde, the head band director at Timber Creek and the director of the Wind Symphony says. “I am honored that our group has been selected. I am also extremely pleased to share this experience with this group of students. They are true artists, wonderful students, and they have demonstrated tremendous work ethic.”
This is a very unique opportunity for the band to play some more contemporary music that is not on the state Prescribed Music List (PML). Also, the concert is the one that all of the high school students participating in the WIBC honor band process attend. The Wind Symphony wants to play music that is accessible to them and music that they won’t hear every day in their own band hall.
“I really like the music, especially because there’s lot of really cool horn parts that I am excited to be a part of,” says senior french horn player Sam Himes. “Each piece is entertaining in its own way, and I hope our audience finds as much joy in it as we do!”
While they have not completely firmed up the program, one highlight of their concert is a piece called “Vulcan” by contemporary composer, Michael Daughtery. “Vulcan” is all about the pop culture icon, Spock (from Star Trek). It is laid out in three separate movements: Pon Farr, Mind Meld, and Vulcan’s Forge (as in the planet, Vulcan). Discriminating listeners will be able to pick out snippets of themes from Star Trek: The Next Generation.
“I feel really intimidated because there is a lot of saxophone solos in the music, and its scary because I’m sitting next to such experienced people and I’m just a sophomore, but the music pushes us to get better,” says Karla Adrian-Caceres. “I’m always excited to go to band to practice the music.”
Another highlight is a beautiful piece called, “All Stars are Love” by another living composer, Steven Bryant. The piece began as a song and gift to his wife on his wedding day and then was later expanded into a concert band work. The text for the original song is inspired by an e. e. cummings poem.
“I love combining pop culture, literature, history, and art into our music,” Mcbryde says. “By learning the background behind the pieces we play, we can really bring them to life and create wonderful class time memories. Students may not remember the name of all of the pieces we play, but they will remember all of the lively conversations we had about Spock! What great memories!”
The Timber Creek Wind Symphony performs on November 18, 2017 at the Double Tree Hotel in Seattle, Washington.