BEMIDJI — November is a big month for students at Bemidji State University as final exams loom, and that’s no different for the music students.
The month is filled with concerts wrapping up the semester, where musicians showcase the skills they learned in the past few months.
Two upcoming concerts are the Symphonic Band performing 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, in the Main Theater and the Trombone Choir at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24 at the Recital Hall, both in Bangsberg Hall.
Adjunct Professor Ryan Webber directs both bands. He is the conductor, chooses the music and works with the students to prepare for the concerts.
Webber told Area Voices on the KAXE Morning Show, “We don't have a traditional written final. So, this is our final. ... This showcases the work the students and the community members have done.”
Webber is expected to grade the students on their performances. He said grading depends a lot on effort. He makes sure they put in the time and show progress from week to week. He also tries to determine if they’re working on their own time.
“I'm always proud of the final product we give," Webber said. "No matter how hard the music is or feels for the group, they rise to the challenge and it's always a really fun part of the semester.”
The Symphonic Band is made of woodwind, brass and percussion instruments, and it’s not just students who take part in the bands. They also feature Bemidji community members. It’s a way for the community to get involved with BSU activities.
“What makes both of these groups special is just watching the community members and the students interact together, how they feed off each other, how they help each other. It's just really rewarding," Webber said.
The pieces they will perform are some selections from the musical Wicked, a jazz ballad called "Forward/Still" by Omar Thomas, "American Overture" by Joseph Willcox Jenkins and a piece inspired by The Lord of the Rings by composer Johan de Meij.
The students include all grade levels and different majors. There are music majors, nursing majors and more. It’s a way for students to continue playing the instruments they have been playing most of their lives.
The trombone choir, however, is exactly as it sounds: a group of trombones. It’s a growing field in music, but there are not a lot of music pieces made for just trombones. They will perform a trombone octet by Gordon Jacob, a fanfare by Brad Edwards and "Song for Japan," which was written as a fundraiser for victims of the tsunami there in 2011.
When selecting music for the upcoming semester, Webber has a lot of considerations. He keeps a spreadsheet for songs that come to mind. During the summer, he starts selecting pieces that not only play well together, but match the skill level of the group.
“I have to think about endurance," Webber said. "I don't want to over-program, because you can tell that by the end of the concert. I want to make sure I don't have too much of the same style back-to-back.”
Webber described the atmosphere of these concerts as fun and energetic. The Bangsberg Hall is bustling this time of year on the BSU campus. There are band and Bemidji Chorale rehearsals and student voice recital practices going on throughout the building.
“Just seeing everybody come together, wanting to be there for their love of music, I mean, I know I might be biased, but I can't think of anything better.”
Tickets for both performances are available through the BSU ticketing system website and at the door for $10.
Tell us about upcoming arts events where you live in Northern Minnesota by emailing psa@kaxe.org.
Area Voices is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.
