On April 17 at 7:30 p.m, Washburn University music department conducted the Wind Ensemble concert, “I Dream A World,” inside the White Concert Hall. It was conducted by Anya Pogorelova, director of bands and assistant professor of music.
“I Dream a World” is a collaboration with Mulvane where they also had photographs by famous photographer Brian Lanker. Furthermore, the concert featured flutes from Landon Middle School, Seaman Middle, Shawnee Heights Middle School and Washburn Rural North Middle School. This concert also featured a guest performance by Terry Andrews on flute.
Lanker’s collection featured at the concert had an interactive element alongside his portraits of Black women. People were to write how they interpreted the photos between performances at the concert. The photographs are all in black and white to cause the viewer to question who these women are and what they do for a living. It provides a provocative photo series on race in society.
Andrews played the last performance, “Shea Butter Suite,” for this ensemble. Andrews is a former University of Missouri-Kansas City classmate of the conductor, Pogorelova, and has known her for six years. Andrews has been playing the flute for 23 years and finds all music essential.
“It’s the one thing that has never let me down, but it’s also the one thing that I don’t think I can live without. I listen to music, my whole entire day has some aspect of music in it. I can’t imagine music being a problem,” Andrews said.
Andrews, as a Black man, discussed how his identity impacts his performance.
“There aren’t a lot of people that look like me that play the flute,” Andrews said.
Andrews also said that the public believes Black boys should be playing more of a manly instrument, however, that this should not matter.
“It can be hard sometimes, but you have to find your community,” Andrews said.
Pogorelova recently completed her doctorate at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She has a background in teaching in Saskatchewan and Georgia.
“Sara Stepp is the director of the art museum. And the whole idea was like how do we design a lesson that incorporates artifacts from the museum,” Pogorelova said. “And so the concept was like looking at the portraits from the Lancer collection, combined with the music, things like ‘Shea Butter Suite’ and just kind of comparing the two and talking about race and identity and racial issues in America.”
Pogorelova identifies as white and talks a little about the difficulties and also beauty of race within this wind ensemble’s performance.
“Whenever I work on difficult topics like this, I try to incorporate their perspective as much as possible,” Pogorelova said.
Pogorelova also spoke about why the middle schoolers were invited to this Wind Ensemble.
“When it comes to music making its cradle to grave, we always wanted to make sure that we were reaching not to the people who are just about to come to Washburn, but to sharing music with everyone and all ages and all skill levels,” Pogorelova said
Ireland Colon, senior music education major, played the flute in the ensemble this spring. Colon has been playing with the wind ensemble for three years and it is also a requirement for her scholarship that she plays in these events. She appreciates the flute’s expressiveness and versatility despite its higher ranges.
“After I am done studying at Washburn, I plan on becoming a music educator, probably somewhere in the area, probably teaching high school or middle school band,” Colon said.
Colon’s favorite selection at the ensemble was “Shea Butter Suite.” For more information please visit this website here.
Edited by Bidhya Sapkota and Stuti Khadka
