Wind Symphony makes Superstate for fifth year in a row

Arts & Entertainment, Headline, News — By admin on May 14, 2010 2:27 pm

by Brianna Bitout, Web Editor

“You’ve worked so hard. If you treat today like a celebration of your work, you’ll have a great time on stage,” Brian Logan, band director, said.

On May 8, the Superstate band stands in a half circle surrounding Mr. Logan after a 3.5 hour bus ride. Mr. Logan gives them words of encouragement right before the band performs in Krannert Hall at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana for the fifth year in a row.

After a short warm-up and tuning of their instruments, the band enters the stage in their black dresses and tuxedos. They set up, and then sit waiting as the announcer presents them to the hall.

The half-full hall claps politely and then Dan Morrison, student director at WHS, steps onto the podium and conducts the first piece, “George Washington Bicentennial March,” by John Philip Sousa. The band finishes the song just a few minutes later, and the audience pauses before breaking into applause.

“The weird thing is when you’re playing and you stop, and then you can hear the judges talking about your performance,” Kaitlyn Nielson, freshman, said.

After taking a bow, Mr. Morrison steps down and Mr. Logan takes his place on the podium. Turning his back on the hall, he conducts the next two pieces: “Pageant” by Vincent Persichetti and “Dance of the New World” by Dana Wilson.

“It’s exposed; it’s so naked (playing in Krannert). You could drop a penny, and everyone would hear it,” Judy Lee, senior, said.

They finish Wilson’s piece and the Hall erupts into applause and cheers from the audience, including a standing ovation from WHS alumni.

The band stands to the applause and then heads off into a back room to have their pictures taken. Mr. Logan then pulls everyone aside and talks to them about the performance, saying that the March (George Washington Bicentennial March) felt good but that the Dance (Dance of the New World) resonated, and they couldn’t find their groove.

Mr. Logan continues, explaining how the band has only ever made Superstate five years in a row and that there is no guarantee they will make it next year.

“I hate to say this, but this could be the last time you’re down here because, you know, you got to earn this (coming down to Superstate),” Mr. Logan said.

With those final words, the band disperses to put their instruments away and change into street clothes.

After a two hour dinner at Alexander’s Steakhouse, the band heads back into Krannert hall to find out who earned honor band for that year, the only award given.

After a few anxious moments, the judges announced Warren High School the honor band in their division.

According to Mr. Logan, Lee and Amy Bischoff, senior, they did not expect to win honor band, but they were not disappointed.

“It requires a lot of hard work (to make it to Superstate). You really need to prepare the music you want to be performing. Making Superstate is the real honor,” Bischoff said.

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Tags: alexander's steakhouse, band, bischoff, champaign, dana wilson, dance of the new world, george washington bicentennial march, john philip sousa, kranert hall, lee, logan, morrison, nielson, pageant, superstate, U of I, University of Illinois, urbana, vincent persichetti, warren high school, wind symphony