When the pandemic started in March of 2020 and lockdowns and cancellations started, one of the groups to come to an abrupt halt was the Brown County High School band program.
Since overcoming virtual learning and mask mandates, the group is now finding their groove once again.
Since February the band has participated in a number of special events and competitions across the state — and they have the gold ratings to prove it.
On Feb. 8 the band was invited to participate in a partnership with Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, for a day of music making, community building and mentorship.
The day was a part of a larger project and co-commission by the National Band Association Chapter at IU (NBA), Jacobs School of Music and high school band programs in four Indiana communities.
The partnering schools from Nashville, Huntingburg, Paoli and Salem also collaborated on a commissioned musical piece by composer Cait Nishimura, which was live streamed in a performance by the IU Concert Band on Feb. 8.
The IU Concert Band also participated in a rehearsal alongside the high school bands with Nishimura virtually listening in on rehearsal and providing feedback.
Led by NBA students, this project has been advised by Assistant Professor of Music Jason Nam and supported by the IU Center for Rural Engagement’s Quality of Place Initiatives and the Jacobs School’s Office of Entrepreneurship and Career Development. The project is underwritten by an IU Student Foundation Metz Grant.
High school band director Matt Finley said that they were contacted by the IU Center for Rural Engagement and the NBA chapter about whether they would be interested in being a part of the commission. All BCHS band students were able to participate.
Finley said that the opportunity helps the group by allowing them to interact with other students from similar programs, which is invaluable in terms of making interpersonal connections.
They also were able to receive ample feedback from Nishimura and IU conductors, which was really great for the kids Finley said.
“I think the kids really enjoyed the experience. From getting to make music to getting to watch the piece be premiered, it was a fun and engaging experience throughout the whole day,” he said.
“We are always interested in finding these opportunities for our students whenever we can, since expanding our students’ breadth of experiences beyond Brown County is so important to developing a greater scope of what is out there in the world. Getting to see the IU ensembles perform and tour the campus was just so different than what they are used to here, and I think that more experiences like this can only deepen their appreciation for Music and creative arts as a whole.”
After the experience at IU, the band participated in Indiana State School Music Association competitions.
The band loaded up and set out to North Central High School on Feb. 27 to participate in ISSMA Solo and Ensemble competition, requiring students to work on a piece of music from a list of challenging repertoire.
Three performances from BCHS band members received gold ratings. Senior Mackenzie Crum received a gold rating for her tenor sax solo. Junior Naje Bedja received a gold rating with distinction for his trumpet solo. Bedja brought home another gold rating with distinction alongside juniors Victoria Klaker and Zachary Reed for their clarinet trio performance.
The “with distinction” addition is given to performances of the “highest caliber,” Finley said.
On March 4, the high school’s jazz band went to Whiteland High School and performed in another ISSMA district jazz competition where they also received a gold rating.
All of the band soloists received an “outstanding soloist recognition” as well.
The gold rating means that they were judged very highly, Finley said.
Two years ago it seemed the odds were stacked against the band with the pandemic pausing the music, but they are again finding their rhythm.
“It’s great to get this sort of feedback as we are rebuilding the momentum that we lost this time of the year only two years ago. It is great to simply be able to make music again,” Finley said.
“When we were in the midst of the pandemic last school year, it felt like everything had be taken from us, and this year it feels more like we’re getting it back.”
