5 Days of Repertoire Sessions — Exciting!
The Dublin Concert Band in Repertoire Session 1
Adam Gorb (holding microphone at right) was one of the many composers who made comments on their
compositions during the sessions organized by Jim Cochran (standing, left)
The University of Cincinnati CCM Chamber Players (USA) in Reading Session 2
The Nagoya University of Arts Wind Orchestra in Repertoire Session 3
Trevor Ford guest-conducting one of his own compositions with the No. 1 Band of the Irish Defence Forces in Repertoire Session 4
The City of Brampton Concert Band (Canada) in Repertoire Session 5 More than 30 new and recent pieces were presented during Monday through Friday of this wonderful and exciting WASBE week. Five ensembles representing Japan, the USA, Canada and Ireland took on this big responsibility. These ensembles were The Dublin Concert Band (Gavin Maloney), The Cincinnati Conservatory Chamber Players (Rodney Winther), Nagoya University of Arts Wind Symphony (Masaichi Takeuchi), Band of the Defence Forces School of Music (Commandant Mark Armstrong) and The City of Brampton Concert Band (Darryl Eaton).
After the Singapore Conference, we were fortunate that Board member Jim Cochran from Shattinger Music organized, coordinated and presented these five repertoire sessions again. The new literature for ensembles of varying sizes and abilities was chosen very carefully and included international representation. It ranged from Grade 3 pieces up to music for the professional level. This variety made it extremely worthwhile and interesting. The performed pieces came from different countries such as Ireland, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the USA.
Presented on a colourful five-part organized handbook, its contents are a gift that will last well beyond the upcoming warmer summer days. It is a sort of guidebook we conductors can refer to until at least the next WASBE conference in the USA. No question, in Cincinnati in July 2009, a lot of composers will surprise us with more new, fresh and innovative music for winds. Thank you composers! Until then, thanks again Jim Cochran and the ensembles for giving us this assistance.
©2007 WASBE and/or the contributing author/photographer