The NIU Wind Ensemble performed pieces from Black composers at the Music of Black Composers Showcase.
From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m, the NIU Wind Ensemble blew the audience away with their performance in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall in the Music Building. The showcase highlights and celebrates past and present Black composers.
The concert included nine songs: “Gale and Zephyr” by Shawn Okpebholo, “Los Bailes Caliente” by William Owens, “Castles in Europe” by James Reede, “Wishes and Wantings” by Kelijah Dunton, “Meditation” by Dwayne S. Milburn, “The Old Boatman” by Florence Price, “At Evening” by Quinn Mason, “Soul to Soul” by Quinn Mason and “On Parade” by Amanda C.E. Aldridge.
Thomas Bough, the director of athletic bands and wind ensemble conductor, was delighted he got the chance to put on this showcase.
“I’m really proud of this,” Bough said. “I’ve actually made this a research focus for myself, so I’ve been studying this music for the last five years, and we’re really, really pleased to bring it to the audience here in Illinois.”
One of Bough’s favorite songs in the performance was “Gale and Zephyr” which was commissioned by NIU.
Three other guest conductors also performed on stage, NIU alums Leif Albertson and Brandon Estes and Lia Snead who has her bachelors degree in music from Georgia Southern University.
Out of all the songs, “Gale and Zephyr” was the most chaotic. All the instruments sounded random yet harmonized at the same time with a calming flute solo in the middle providing some levity.
Malacai Sanders, a jazz performer and freshman at NIU, found his favorite song to be “Gale and Zephyr” as well.
“I like the complexities of it,” Sanders said. “I really liked the dissonance, although it was dissonant, they, like, work together at the same time.”
All the songs felt grand and important with each giving the feeling of grandeur and hope.
Sophia Malamis, a freshman majoring in communication disorders, came to the event with friends to support the orchestra.
“I brought my friends to this event because I like the harmonic orchestra,” Malamis said. “I love wind concerts and decided that it might be fun.”
If you missed the performance and would like to give it a listen, you can go online to watch the live webcast of the performance.
