On Monday, May 9th, the Wind Ensemble departed the Wartburg campus at 8:30 am to start our two-week leg of the tour. As we ate our salads and turkey sandwiches at 9 am, we were excited to get our concert site. The band arrived at English Valleys High School around 11 am where we were introduced to their 5-12 band director Mr. Dusdieker.
We set up and rehearsed until our I pm concert for the entire English Valleys high school and middle school, as well as music students from two of the area high schools. The band performed several of our feature pieces for the group, including Cheers, Variations of Barnacle Bill the Sailor, Lyric Waltz, Zirkus Humberto, and Semper Fidelis, which intrigued many of the students. Several of our students had a “home” concert, but it was actually home to one specific student, Asher Schneider, who graduated from English Valleys.
After the concert the general student body left the gymnasium, and the English Valleys high school band students were encouraged to stay for a question-and-answer session with the band. The students asked excellent questions and were very interested in the group’s rehearsal schedules, the feature instruments in the pieces performed, and what college life looks like. The average graduating class at English Valleys is roughly 40 students per class, so several of them were interested to hear about the small class sizes and involvement opportunities at Wartburg. Personally, it was uplifting to see such an interest and excitement from the high schoolers, especially from one girl who asked what the title of one of our songs was so she could listen to it on repeat.
When the student were dismissed, we packed up and drove to the Machine Shed in Davenport, Iowa, where we enjoyed home cooked mashed potatoes, corn, chicken, and roast beef, all served family style. It was a great end to a great day.
Katie Doyle
Senior Clarinet Player