This spring the Wind Symphony will embark for the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Germany. For some members this tour will be their first performance experience outside of the United States, and the extensive itinerary will include exciting joint concerts and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
On May 5, in commemoration of Liberation Day, the Wind Symphony will perform in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, with local group Orkest Orventus. The country’s popular Liberation Day celebrates and honors the memories of those who fought and died during World War II.
BYU’s Wind Symphony has also been invited to concertize as part of Freiberg, Germany’s 850th anniversary celebration. Other notable stops on the tour include Lille, France; the historic De Doelen concert venue in Rotterdam, Netherlands; Ghent, Belgium; and Hamburg, Berlin, and Dortmund in Germany.
The group’s program will boast some of the finest works of American and European composers, ranging from dramatic overtures to an introspective arrangement of “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief”–as well as rousing openers and an encore of John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”
The symphony rehearses two hours each week to perfect their repertoire, focusing on five numbers each session. “It can get a bit daunting, but it’s totally worth it,” said group member Tyler Hill. Since such intensity doesn’t allow much opportunity for members to get to know each other, each rehearsal begins with introductions.
“Rehearsals can be pretty intense at times; Dr. Peterson is so good at what he does,” said Wind Symphony member Rebecca Blake. “He really emphasizes intonation and blend, so we start off rehearsal with some tuning exercises that help us quite a bit.”
Every group member has a favorite piece to play. Hill’s personal favorite is the theme from Silverado because it’s upbeat and exciting. “It releases my inner cowboy,” Hill said. A crowd favorite is “Pines of the Appian Way.” Inspired by the power of Roman armies, the piece is often used to invite local musicians to share the stage with the symphony as they create an atmosphere of glorious melodies.
Conductor Donald Peterson is looking forward to forming new friendships in Europe while sharing with his students the rich musical culture there. “Because there is a huge tradition of wind bands in each of these countries, I believe the people of Europe will want to see our performances,” Peterson said. “For us this is both exciting and intimidating.” No doubt this tour, prepared with the Wind Symphony’s soundtrack of orchestra greats, promises to be a journey full of unforgettable memories.
Source: Performing Arts Management