Staff Writer- Amelia Dewberry
Join the Gustavus Wind Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestra for a fall concert on Saturday, Nov. 15th at 4:40 p.m. in Jussi Björling Recital Hall. The concert is free to attend, and no tickets are needed. It will also be livestreamed on the Gustavus Music YouTube channel.
The performers are looking forward to a joint performance where they can celebrate their music with each other. “Playing at concerts that feature other ensembles is exciting because you get to share your hard work and dedication with the audience and you also get to listen to the other ensembles perform their pieces and listen to all of the hard work they have also put in throughout the semester,” Junior Mary Steffen said.
Steffen, a clarinetist in the Gustavus Wind Symphony, is most excited to play “A Little Tango Music” by Adam Gorb. “We haven’t had the piece for very long, but we’ve picked it up very quickly, and the energy of the piece makes it incredibly fun to play!”
“For me, being a musician at Gustavus has been a great way to meet new people around campus. It has been rewarding to connect with others who also share a passion for making music. I’ve been a musician my whole life, and being a musician in GWS has allowed me to recharge after a long day of classes by immersing myself in the joy of making music,” Steffen said.
Alongside returning musicians like Steffen are also students joining the Gustavus music community for the first time, playing in their first fall concerts and experiencing the supportive concert and rehearsal environment.
“What I enjoy most about performing at concerts like this is the real importance of it, the culture and almost team-like environment. Everyone’s so connected,” First-year Daniel Abebaw explained. He plays trombone in both the Gustavus Wind Symphony and Gustavus Jazz Ensemble, as well as the drums for fun on the side.
Abebaw finds that all the pieces the ensembles are rehearsing are “unique and great,” but his favorite piece in Saturday’s concert is “Lux Aeterna.”
As a First-year student, Abebaw has been appreciating the strong music culture at Gustavus. “What I enjoy about music at Gustavus is the unique musical style not only of the pieces themselves, but also the tradition behind music as a whole for all of Gustavus’s history. The annual ceremonies, the chapel showcases, and even the ‘raw’ atmosphere of the rehearsal spaces, almost as if the music people curate behind these walls are sacred, and only strengthens the sense of belonging.”
After Saturday’s concert, Steffen and Abebaw look ahead to what’s next. Gustavus Wind Symphony and Gustavus Wind Orchestra will perform their annual Winds of Christmas concert on Tuesday, Dec. 9th, during Chapel Break. This is a short, fun concert full of classic Christmas music.
In true Gustie fashion, Abebaw is also excitedly preparing for three upcoming performances with Gustavus Jazz Ensemble: Midnight Express, Crooners Supper Club in northeast Minneapolis, and professionally recording tracks at a music studio. As a First-year, “this all is that much more exciting, and I can’t wait for what’s still to come!” Abebaw expressed.