The Power of Nature - Villa Academy's 2021 Fall Band Concert

VIL LA BANDS PRESE NTS:

TH E POWE R OF NATURE

THE PROGRAM The Villa Academy band program consists of over 55 students participating in three ensembles, including Beginning Band, Concert Band, and Symphonic Band. Students perform year-round at events such as school concerts, band festivals, Solo & Ensemble, and Music in the Parks.

The bands rehearse 2-3 days a week, supplemented by weekly sectionals and optional private lessons. Clinicians are hired for special sessions on an as-needed basis.

The bands consistently place at festival and have earned numerous trophies for their musicianship. In Fall 2018, Villa Academy’s rst musician was accepted to the WMEA Junior All-State Band. In 2019, at Music in the Parks, Villa Academy was awarded the prestigious ‘Esprit de Corps’ award, which “recognizes the participating organization that displays an exemplary attitude of positive support and outstanding personal behavior throughout the festival weekend. Personal integrity, quality character values, a desire for excellence, and a spirit of cooperation serve as the cornerstone qualities of the Esprit de Corps Award.”

THE DIRECTOR Ben Draper was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, and is a graduate of Castro Valley High School. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from UCLA in 2005 and his Masters of Music Education from Central Washington University in 2019.

Mr. Draper began his career as the Director of Instrumental and Choral Music at San Lorenzo High School. While there, he moonlighted as a singer and multi-instrumentalist with indie rock band The 21st Century and hip hop group Musical Mutiny.

Mr. Draper moved to the Paci c Northwest in 2012. He is in his tenth year as the Director of Bands at Villa Academy and his second year as

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President of the Elliott Bay region of the Washington Music Educators Association.

THE CONCERT This program is inspired by the many ways in which nature showcases its power in our world. The power of the stars to light up one’s imagination (Starsplitter Fanfare), the power of the wind to invisibly move everything in its path (Whirlwind), the power of the rivers to shape human migration patterns (Anasazi), and the power of a volcanic eruption to cause a “year without a summer” (Tambora!)

Fifth grade artists learned about and explored abstract art in their collaboration with band. While listening to four pieces used in the concert, artists described how they felt and/ or what they imagined by writing and sketching. They then expressed those ideas with watercolor paint, using the elements of art: line, color, form, texture, shape, space, and value, to create something meaningful to them. Please enjoy their impressions of their favorite musical piece.

Natalie Berglund (cover art)

“Anasazi reminded me of warm colors. Like on a sunny day on a peaceful walk. It made me feel very colorful and bright.”

Huntley Hurst

“Tambora reminds me of ups and downs. The little specks in the background show the surprise of music in it. Every once in awhile there are surprises of sound.”

Lily Allen

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When hearing Tambora, I thought of Northern Lights in Antarctica. So I drew a mixture between green, blue, purple, black to represent the lights and yellow to represent the brightness and extravagant spotlight for the lights to show how much it stands out!

“Tambora reminds me of warm colors and pops of texture. That is why I put red, orange, and yellow.

I added black because it also has ups and downs.”

Alta Shearer

“This piece has lots of colors for the calm, happy parts of the song and has darker colors for the more sad parts. I used waves and curved lines because in Anasazi the song sounds soft.”

Dhara Parikh

“Starsplitter Fanfare reminds me of a blur of instruments. The painting has bright colors because the song seems happy.”

Mila Velan

“The song Whirlwind made me feel like I’m in a forest and it’s raining. The heart rate of the song went up and down.”

Liya Tesfay

“Anasazi reminded me of the ocean and coral reefs. In my painting, I showed the ocean and a lot of waves in the water.”

Colette Davis

SYMPHONIC BAND

CONCERT BAND

BEGINNING BAND

Flute

Flute

Flute

Clarinet

Clarinet

Lucy Allen

Clarinet

Blair Ashcraft

Jake Emery

Henry Famy

Sara Kennelly

James Richards

Maggie Vasquez

Saxophone Shay Alessi

Will Lendvay

Trumpet

Lily Allen

Marlow Dickens

Dhara Parikh

Charlotte Stuart

Natalie Berglund

Fiona Parviz

Liya Tesfay

Saxophone

Clare Hathaway

Thomas Moore

Trumpet

Mateo Acker

Adelle Barloon

Will Barloon

Brody Bursiek

Elliot Zickuhr

Alexa Heim

Trombone

Sarani Bohacek

Ella Glant

Brooks Odom

Anika Packwood

Bella Vasquez

Lauren Lally

Julia McCormack

Wyatt Youel

Percussion

Theo Alessi

Hazel Donahue

Daniel Fadden

Brady Meehan

AJ Roth

Trombone Eden Bemnet

Percussion

Claire Fitzpatrick

Kai Heijden

Gavin Schroeder

Samantha Warden

Mealat Eyob

Naariah Goldbloom

Kellan Hallier

Louise Lorio

Grant Waterman

Trumpet

Will Adams

Evan Cornwall

Aaron Godong

Owen Healey

Grayson Holland

Flynn McCormack

Isaiah Muzzy-Owens

Trombone

Adam Ryder

Drew Simons

CONCERT BAND Full Band 5-Note Songs To review the content and skills learned in Beginning Band, the musicians have been learning songs that use only the rst ve notes on their instruments. The songs they will be performing include Note Review, Au Claire de la Lune, Hot Cross Buns, Down By The Station, Ode to Joy, Aura Lee, and Lightly Row.

SYMPHONIC BAND Starsplitter Fanfare

Brian Balmages

As its name implies, Starsplitter Fanfare is a spirited and powerful work that is inspired by the phenomenon known as a supernova. These stellar explosions can be extremely bright and can actually cause a burst of radiation that outshines an entire galaxy for a few weeks or months before fading. In addition to the amazing explosion, the resulting shock waves can trigger the formation of new stars. The amazing concept that such an incredible explosion can cause new formations in the sky underscores the energy of this entire work.

Whirlwind

Jodie Blackshaw

A number of unusual musical devices are used in Whirlwind, which distinguish it from other young band repertoire. The use of soundscape sections at the beginning and end of the piece introduce students to cueing from a conductor, free time, and an increased aural awareness of other players’ contributions to the work.

Anasazi

Anne McGinty

The Ancestral Puebloans, also known as the Anasazi, were an ancient Native American culture that spanned the present-day Four Corners area of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. They left their established homes in the 12th and 13th centuries. The archaeological record indicates that for Ancestral Puebloans to adapt to climatic change by changing residences and locations was not unusual.

Tambora!

William Owens

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Mount Tambora is an active volcano in the island of Sumbawa, Indonesia. Tambora’s eruption of 1815 was the largest and most deadly ever recorded, causing the deaths of tens of thousands. In the aftermath, the volcanic cloud was so dense and widespread that the year 1816 became known as “The Year Without a Summer”

SPECIAL THANKS Julie Grasseschi, Interim Head of School Michelle Sullivan, Interim Lower School Director Chrissy May, Interim Middle School Director Cynthia Padilla, Administrative Assistant Richard Piecora and the entire Facilities staff Haley Gabler, K-8 General Music Teacher Patty Makatura and the 5th grade Art classes Our classroom teachers Our parents and families

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES Winter Band Concert, March 10, 7pm

Spring Band Concert, May 26, 7pm