For the second time in 4 years, the Faculty of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s College Wind Ensemble has reached the head nationwide honor for a program of its dimension.
The group, which has about 4 dozen musicians who symbolize 25 totally different majors throughout a wide range of educational disciplines, is one in every of seven ensembles chosen by peer evaluate to take part through recording within the Small Band Program showcase on the biennial conference of the Faculty Band Administrators Nationwide Affiliation (CBDNA). The occasion shall be on Feb. 18 on the College of Georgia and can culminate a busy week for conductor Justin Zanchuk.
On Monday (Feb. 13), the Wind Ensemble will carry out at 7:30 p.m. in Escher Auditorium at Saint Ben’s in a campus preview of the music it’ll play 4 days later on the Midwinter Conference for the Minnesota Music Educators Affiliation (MMEA). The MMEA efficiency shall be at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 17 on the Minneapolis Conference Heart. And, as quickly because it ends, Zanchuk will get on a aircraft certain for Athens, Georgia, to symbolize the group on the CBDNA showcase.
“The importance of this, the truth that it’s the second time we’ve been so honored in a brief interval, speaks to the constant work and dedication the scholars have put into this group,” stated Zanchuk, an affiliate professor of music, now in his ninth yr at CSB and SJU. “They offer their all within the Wind Ensemble classroom they usually’ve utilized their classes they usually have a want for an awesome expertise in music. To have such a excessive degree of efficiency, they’re usually pushed to the brink of what they suppose they will’t do. Then, after they notice they will, it opens all new development potentialities.”
CBNDA {qualifications} as a small band program embody {that a} faculty’s complete enrollment is far smaller than the flagship or main regional establishments inside a state. Additionally they usually are personal, faith-based liberal arts colleges.
Taking part in as a crew
Whereas participation within the showcase will not be a contest, that doesn’t imply the musicians – all of whom auditioned to make the wind ensemble, which is a for-credit class – don’t take pleasure in standing out.
“It seems like we’re part of a crew,” stated Madison Kubik, a sophomore from Oakdale, Minnesota, who performs clarinet and likens the expertise to what it’s like for her enjoying softball as an outfielder for Saint Ben’s. “Now we have the identical ups and downs that you simply do in athletics and we’re all striving to realize the identical objective. When one thing like this occurs, the place you get acknowledged among the many finest within the nation at what you do, the sensation is euphoric.”
Kubik, an accounting main, put the identical preparation into her music that she did membership softball to take part in each in faculty. She took up the clarinet as a sixth grader and later performed in jazz band and present choir combo at North St. Paul Excessive Faculty. At the moment, the wind ensemble practices for an hour and 20 minutes 3 times per week and, relying on personal classes and different commitments, people can spend greater than 10 hours per week at their craft.
“It’s about pushing myself,” stated Kubik, who receives a music scholarship to assist pay for her training. “We wish to obtain greatness after which attempt for extra. Getting this nationwide publicity will assist recruiting for what already is a really robust music program. A whole lot of credit score goes to (Zanchuk). In relation to music, he could possibly be the perfect D-I coach on the market.”
Recording from October 2021
The CBDNA showcase sometimes lags greater than a yr from when a band makes a recording to when it’s exhibited on the nationwide conference. In October 2021 at Escher Auditorium, the CSB and SJU wind ensemble reduce a model of “Two-Lane Blacktop,” an homage to the open highway and distant horizon that was composed by James David, a professor of music composition at Colorado State College. That recording is what the CBDNA viewers will hear Feb. 18.
“It’s actually thrilling to be acknowledged for the work we’ve put in, and it has paid off,” stated Frank Doyle, a junior from Montgomery, Minnesota, who’s majoring in train and well being science however places simply as a lot effort into enjoying the trumpet. “(Zanchuk) pushes us to be our greatest each inside and outdoors the classroom and I believe we’re all grateful for that.”
Doyle took piano classes as a baby however turned a trumpet participant in fifth grade.
“My days are extraordinarily busy with courses and labs however enjoying trumpet for me is a time once I can take a break from that and be part of one thing larger than myself in creating music,” Doyle stated. “It’s a option to specific feelings by means of a medium apart from phrases, like an artist portray emotion by means of colours. We painting that by means of the music we make as a gaggle, and I believe the accolades we’ve gotten are extraordinarily well-deserved. I imagine this reveals that CSB and SJU really have among the finest packages round and we carry out at a excessive degree though we aren’t a giant faculty.”
Newest of many distinctions
In 2017, the wind ensemble carried out“Traveler,” a composition by David Maslanka. That recording was a part of the CBDNA showcase in 2019. In the meantime, the group has been invited to carry out at MMEA 3 times previously six years. This yr’s efficiency in Minneapolis shall be their first dwell look since 2017, nevertheless. In early 2021, lingering COVID-19 protocols pressured them to play nearly. And one of many causes the recording of Two-Lane Blacktop is important is as a result of it was a part of the wind ensemble’s first in-person live performance with a dwell viewers in additional than 18 months. Because it was the musicians wore masks with slits and bell covers for his or her devices. However the probability to listen to applause created an exhilaration that comes by means of within the music.
“JZ is at all times telling us to be intentional, be adaptable and be distinctive,” stated Erin Kammueller, a senior from St. Paul, an English and Hispanic Research double main who finds a unique avenue for creativity by means of enjoying the flute and piccolo. “With the block scheduling we had throughout COVID, I believe wind ensemble was the one factor that stored me sane. We could be a smaller program, however we’re tighter knit than you’d discover at a giant faculty. And so many individuals are collaborating, not as a result of they’re music majors however simply because they love music. I believe there’s a vivid future right here for folks like that.”
Anna Stocker, who joined the wind ensemble as a horn participant in January 2022 after collaborating in Symphonic Band, is a music main. And typically she will’t imagine her ears.
“I’m actually impressed with everybody’s focus and expertise,” stated Stocker, a junior from Jordan, Minnesota, who got here to CSB as a math training main however determined music was too necessary. “I believe for college kids who don’t have any music of their schedules, this can be a artistic outlet that’s totally different from what you’re finding out in different courses. It is a group the place everybody cares, and that comes by means of in what we play.”
In case you don’t catch them Monday, the wind ensemble – which is able to go on a spring break tour of Minnesota – additionally will carry out at 7:30 p.m. Might 3 in Escher Auditorium.
The 2022-23 CSB and SJU Wind Ensemble paused in September for a gaggle picture.