To hear great pieces of music performed by excellent musicians, one does not have to go to see the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The NEIU Wind Ensemble and NEIU Varsity Big Band concert on Thurs- day, March 1st was not only satisfactory, but remarkable.
The evening was divided into two parts- classical and jazz repertoire. The NEIU Wind Ensemble, directed by two guest conductors: Dr. Shelley Foster Gurin, and Dr. Travis Heath, performed first. The section leaders included Konrad Pawelek (Clarinet), Leticia Garcia (Alto Saxophone), Greg Strauss (Trumpet), Peter Jackson (French Horn), Sam Park (Trombone) and Carson Hooley (Percussion). The audience had a chance to hear a variety of classical repertoire from British and American composers.
The second half of the concert was dedicated to jazz styles of NEIU’s Varsity Big Band, which was conducted by NEIU music professor and trombonist, Mayo Tiana. Section leaders for NEIU’s Varsity Big Band included: Brian Fisher (Trumpet), Katie Samayoa (Alto Saxphone & Flute). The evening was full of solos; however the audience seemed to really enjoy the solos of Angela Zuniga (Piano) and Robert Alonzo (Trumpet) in Thad Jones’s “A Child is Born.” The question then is how one reaches such a level of musicianship.
“The whole spirit of being [in] college or a university is to excel to learn, to get to the point of proficiency. My students do that, since they love the music, [are] interested in it and just want to be in a band,” explained Mayo Tiana. “The idea of what we do is 80 percent concentration. When you get to the rehearsal, everybody has to be there in a musical frame of mind. Therefore, I try to get my students to understand that. They need to be completely present in mind and body during the whole rehearsal, not to leave room mentally. Looking at some- body with blind eyes, I know they are not there.”
Such a band can exist only be- cause of its leader and their passion for teaching. “It is my real thrill and my passion right now. I meet my students five days a week and I can- not wait to get NEIU to play with them,” said Mayo Tiana.
It is clear from the applause at the end of the performance that the audience enjoyed their evening and the musicianship of the guest artists, and the students and faculty from NEIU’s music department.