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Bay Area Summer Wind Ensemble Innovative Musical Education Program Runs From June 21-26 By Robert E. Martin
The Bay Area Summer Wind Ensemble will serve a dual function as a musical outlet and performance opportunity while promoting the area arts & cultural community. Ideally the ensemble will be comprised of local advanced high school students as well as college level musicians and area professionals. “The concept is for students to sit and perform nest to their peers and give the experienced instrumentalists an opportunity to lead sectionals and master classes,” explains Spenner. “A chamber music aspect will be incorporated, allowing those interested to participate in smaller ensembles. Moreover, there is no fee to participate. In essence, this project is conceived as musical ensemble, arts festival, and summer music course all in one. Locations for the Summer Wind Ensemble will be at Ankney Auditorium, Garber High School, and Pilgrim Lutheran Church and run from Sunday, June 21 – Friday, June 26th, with a Chamber Concert at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, June 24th at the church, and a Final Concert at 7:30 PM on Friday, June 26th. Repertoire chosen is representative of professional level programming and for full band includes Gustav Holst’s First Suite in E-Flat, Shostakovich’s Festive Overture, and many additional selections. Spenner is active as a conductor in many different mediums and is now a student at the University of Illinois. In the fall of 2008 he conducted the Opera Studio’s production of Gallantry by Douglas Moore and will continue as their conduct in 2009. He has also been invited to serve as Musical Director for a production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Gondoliers in the summer of 2009. He also recently performed in Avery Fisher Hall at the Lincoln Center. Assisting Spenner with the Bay Area Summer Wind Ensemble will be Dr. Roby George, Associate Director of Bands at the University of Illinois. In the future it is hoped that this ensemble will become an annual event, attracting participants from beyond the immediate locale of the tri-cities. “This program began as a somewhat selfish idea,” notes Spenner. “ I was brainstorming ways to give myself conducting opportunities. As a student there are relatively few “built in” chances to conduct, so I constantly scheme to find my way onto a podium one way or another. I also frequently dream about ways I can return to my home community and share the passion for music that I have, as well as try to help “give back” to local arts organizations. One day, when thinking of these two concepts separately, it seemed natural to put them together. I got into contact with some old friends and contacts and started to form the details.” “There are many goals associated with the program,” continues Spenner. “Though my main concerns are artistic and educational in nature, there are financial considerations as well. The festival, as it stands, currently has no budget and those involved are either donating their time or being reimbursed through outside sources. I would like to see this become a non-profit organization with a functioning account in which to continue to attract high quality guest artists. Also, part of this program is designed to help support local music programs, so another goal is to raise money for these school systems. On the education side of things, the purpose of the Bay Area Summer Wind Ensemble is to provide a summer opportunity for student musicians to perform and learn alongside more advanced students and professionals.” As for objectives that Spenner hopes to achieve with this program and how it will specifically work with students, he is hopeful to provide an opportunity for students to participate in a high-quality musical event that often define and set professional standards to aspire towards. “Perhaps the festival will inspire students to pursue the arts as a career. More importantly, perhaps they will be inspired to appreciate and support the arts as an invaluable part of our culture. The guests involved in this project so far are some of the finest musicians I know personally, and the participants will learn a great deal from interacting so closely with people such as Roby George, Associate Director of Bands at the University of Illinois, who is our guest conductor this year and David Gillingham, renowned composer and Professor at Central Michigan University, who is willing to work with the group pending his schedule’s availability. Others who have expressed interest and support include Kevin Cole, Bay City native and concert pianist, members of the Midland and Saginaw Bay Symphony orchestras, and area band directors.” Please feel free to contact Spenner at spenner2@illinois.edu or by phoning 989-891-7956 for more information on how you can support this endeavor or if you are interested in participating.
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Former Bay City Essexville-Garber High school alumnus Jeffrey Spenner
is returning to his hometown with the intent of launching an
innovative and new musical education program for students interested in
Classical Music.