WASBE Day 2

Well,

Day 2 is behind me (just barely). The day started with a great repertoire session of music from South America. Unfortunately, the band from Brazil that had originally planned to be here couldn't make it, so most of it was done via video. Some interesting music is being composed south of the equator and we may see some of it show up on a future PSWE concert!

Following that session was a workshop on interpreting and performing Sousa marches. Keith Brion and the New Sousa Band did a wonderful workshop for an hour and a half on repertoire that is often seriously underrated in Canada.

The afternoon offered up an open rehearsal with the Royal Northern College of Music with Tim Reynish and Clark Rundell. Some interesting insights on rehearsing Vaughan Williams and Gorb! I look forward to hearing them in concert tomorrow night.

A wonderful dinner with Mark and Jennie Morette was followed by a concert by a very good Spanish ensemble. Some solid Spanish music was performed in addition to one Russian work. Pieces that caught my ear were Concertango for Alto Sax, Jazz Trio and Wind Ensemble by Luis Serrano Alarcón and Wind of Yemen by Boris Pigovat.

Of course there were many other meetings with friends old and new either at the display booths or over a drink in the bar. I had the opportunity to meet Mike Christianson of the Gotham Wind Symphony and was told by Jens Lindemann that he is working on the US premier of Trajectories. I wish him the best with that and hope that it comes to fruition!