Dear Hawkeyes,
Summer is quickly fading. Traffic patterns in the area have become busy, and just a couple of weeks ago, moving trucks and trailers were seen throughout the campus and community, with students have been anxiously carrying loads of belongings into their residence halls and apartments. These are the unmistakable signs that a new academic year is upon us.
The beginning of a new school year always bring an air of anticipation and excitement. Before I preview a few plans for the coming year, I want to look a bit in the rearview mirror at 2023-24, which was another memorable year for Iowa Bands. Last year, our programs served more than 700 student participants within our many concert and athletic bands. Dr. Bush will share the highlights of the athletic band program, so I will focus on the concert band-related activities.
The Iowa Symphony Band, Concert Band, and University Band performed a full slate of concerts in the fall and spring. In October, the Concert Band and Symphony Band presented a joint concert to start the season. Dr. Nick Miller conducted his debut performance with the Symphony Band in his new position as Assistant Director of Bands. Additionally, Michael Gause, new Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Iowa, performed a beautiful rendition of the Arutiunian Trumpet Concerto with the Symphony Band. This concert was a wonderful introduction of two of our new School of Music colleagues to the public.
The Band Extravaganza was held at the Xtream Arena in Coralville on November 5, and the concert featured the Iowa Symphony Band, Johnson County Landmark, Hawkeye Marching Band, Iowa Dance Team and Spirit Squads, and the Lightning Marching Band from Liberty High School as our guest band. It was an afternoon of fun entertainment for a large and enthusiastic audience. This year, the Band Extravaganza will be held at the Xtream Arena on Sunday, December 8 at 3:00PM.
Less than two weeks after the Band Extravaganza, the Symphony Band collaborated with the Iowa City New Horizons Band, under the direction of M. Cory Schmitt, in a concert in the Voxman Music Building. It was a special experience for the members of both groups, and this is a collaboration that is certain to continue for years to come. Both bands presented excellent programs, and the Symphony Band closed the concert with a special performance of the Symphony No. 1 for Organ and Orchestra by Guilmant, arranged by Kenneth Soper. This performance was the world premiere of this setting, and it featured a spectacular performance by UI organ professor, Dr. Gregory Hand.
The busy fall semester concluded with a joint concert by the University Band and Concert Band. By the way, the University Band continues to be a very popular ensemble for our university students. The band is led each semester by our capable graduate conducting students, and it often numbers near 100 members.
The Iowa Dinner continues to be a strong tradition of Iowa Bands, and it occurs each December during finals week or the week following final exams. In recent years, alumni, friends, and special guests have gathered for fine food and fellowship at The Berghoff. The evening includes a delicious meal along with introductions of guests and updates from campus. Todd Rogers from Bob Rogers Travel has been very kind to organize the Iowa Dinner for many years. If you find yourself in Chicago during the Midwest Clinic, I hope you will join us for this special evening.
The spring semester got off to a quick start with the Iowa Honor Band weekend on February 17-18. The weekend featured master classes by School of Music applied faculty, sectionals, rehearsals, and concerts. The UI Showcase Concert on Saturday featured the Concert Band and Symphony Band, with Michael Gause as our guest artist on trumpet and Dr. Linda Moorhouse, Director of the School of Music at the University of Illinois, as our guest conductor. I had the pleasure of leading the Welch Honor Band in performance on Sunday, while Dr. Moorhouse conducted the Voxman Honor Band. We were thrilled to host more than 200 talented high school students from 45 different schools for the weekend, and I look forward to the 2025 Iowa Honor Band on February 22-23. I am so pleased that Dr. Timothy Mahr, Director of Bands Emeritus at St. Olaf College and UI alumnus, will be our featured guest conductor, and UI Professor Benjamin Coelho will be the guest artist on bassoon.
In March 2025, the Symphony Band concert tour will include a performance in historic Orchestra Hall in Chicago. The Iowa Symphony Band and Iowa State University Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Michael Golemo, will collaborate for the first time in a special performance. This will be a proud and memorable occasion for the students and music programs at each university. The concert will be at 7:30PM on Friday, March 28, and it would be wonderful to have an audience full of supportive Hawkeyes. Information about the concert will be available by early December on the Orchestra Hall website at: https://cso.org/concerts-tickets/tickets-subscriptions/.
Wishing you a wonderful fall! Go Hawks!
Mark Heidel
Director of Bands