On Monday, April 20, University Band, University Jazz and Topeka New Horizons Band conducted a spring concert at White Concert Hall from 7:30-9 p.m. Around 700 spectators were present in this concert. The concert highlighted the student conductors.
Rashawn Alford, sophomore music education major, performed most of the drum sections, including the slapstick and tambourine parts during the concert. He also explained how the university band differs from the musical experiences he has had.
“University band feels, … less stressful. I feel like in this setting, cool. You just hopped on your instrument after several years of not playing it,” Alford said.
Ethan Shorb, senior music education major and student conductor, shared experience of conducting the band for the first time.
“I feel good about it. It was really fun to get to have that experience in a concert setting,” Shorb said. “We’ve conducted rehearsals and group practice before, but we’ve never done it like a concert. So it was really good to do that.”
Sierra Breedlove, senior music education major and student conductor, described her university band experience.
“I think it’s a lot more focused on community, which makes it just a different experience, because you get to see people who are teachers, people of all different ages, of different race, ethnicity and I like seeing everybody just come together for one common thing and that’s music,” Breedlove said.
Shorb shared that he had never played in a band before, as his background is in orchestra, having performed in string and symphony orchestras, so playing in a wind band was a very positive experience for him.
Rick Baker, trombonist and Washburn graduate, said he had performed many of the pieces before, while some were new to him. He also shared his experience in the university band.
“I played in a lot of bands, and I still play in a lot of bands, so it’s very similar to the summer bands that I play,” Baker said. “Although this is more challenging music than a lot of the bands.”
Simon Walrod, senior music education major and student conductor, described his experience of playing a different instrument during the concert.
“Even for people who are regularly here and playing as music majors, we’re all playing secondary instruments,” Walrod said. “Instruments that we’re not usually used to playing, like Ethan, … he’s an orchestra person. He was playing the trombone. Sierra was playing the French horn. I’m a percussionist. I play the drums usually, but I was playing oboe today. I remember playing saxophone, usually up to the player, just a different experience.”
Ireland Colon, senior music education major and student conductor, said that although they were a bit nervous at the beginning since it was something new, they ended up doing a great job and quickly settled in, as they had already become comfortable conducting their groups.
Student conductors performed for the first time at this concert. The Washburn music department will host more events soon. Students can visit their website for more information.
Edited by Anushma Dahal and Stuti Khadka
