In the spring of 2013, Wind Symphony, also known as “top band,” made musical recordings in hopes of making the cut for the Bands of America National Concert Festival in Indianapolis. Over the summer, Bands of America announced results that the band will travel to Indianapolis on March 6-8, along with 15 other bands from across the country, to perform as a featured band in Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University. Senior William Rodzewich waited anxiously to find out if him, as well as the rest of the Wind Symphony, made the cut.
“I was indifferent about the recordings, because I liked the chance of going somewhere cool, but I didn’t like all the time it took,” Rodzewich said.
Members of the Wind Symphony are selected by the directors through an audition process where students perform multiple etudes along with their peers and are then ranked on their performance and put into their respective bands. This year’s auditions were imperative because of their implications on the band’s upcoming featured performance in Indianapolis. Everyone, even veterans, such as junior Delaney Toone were nervous about the auditions.
“The audition this year was nerve wracking because it determined whether or not you’re going to Indianapolis with the top band, or going on the other trips with the second and third bands,” Toone said.
The Bands of America National Concert Festival also gives each band the opportunity to perform and work with one of the Festival’s evaluators or clinicians, where our Wind Symphony will receive pointers and suggestions to improve as an ensemble, as well as develop as individual musicians.
“I think working with professional clinicians will be a lot of fun because we get to hear their opinions of us,” Toone said, “but also scary because I don’t want to let them down by messing up.”
Members of the Wind Symphony plan to raise money to lower the expense of the trip. Fundraisers such as the band’s annual March-a-thon, TNT Fireworks and chocolate sales are centered around raising sufficient funds to aid the students.
“I am very happy. I know the trip will be a great experience for me, as well as everyone, and I know it will be worth the time because of our hard work,” Rodzewich said.
