Pacific Index

Pacific’s Fall Symphonic Concert is underway 

Pacific University’s new Director of Bands, Dr. Abbie Brown, will make her Symphonic Band conducting debut at this year’s Fall Symphonic Concert on November 22. With a much larger ensemble than the Jazz Band, Dr. Brown shares her excitement for the upcoming performance, the process of preparing the music, and the unique energy this group brings to campus.

Stepping into the role this semester, Dr. Brown describes her experience working with the Symphonic Band and the challenges that have arisen. “The experience has been super positive so far,” she says. “The ensemble came in really ready to go and really committed to a positive culture where they work hard, they’re energized about the music, and they’re all really passionate about playing in a concert band.” 

She adds that inheriting a group already aligned with her vision made the transition especially smooth. “I was so lucky to inherit a group that was so onboard with my vision for the band— growing, becoming more sensitive artists, and through that, becoming better human beings and better participants in our community.” 

The only challenge, she says, is that the band only meets once a week, on Monday evenings.
“We have to generate that momentum within the rehearsal each week and kind of start over with it,” she says. “But the students are doing really well with coming in and finding a way to muster that energy despite a long day.”

The Symphonic Band is a blend of music majors (including music education, music therapy, and music B.A.) and non-majors, with the groups being relatively even. Dr. Brown explains that she enjoys having this diversity in the band. “Any time I get to be in a room filled with people who have a diverse set of perspectives…that really energizes me and reminds me why we do music,” she expands. “The non-music majors in this group are really the product of the reason music education exists— to create people who want to keep music in their lives.”

Dr. Brown chose a theme for this year’s concert that she felt aligned with the ensemble and the start of her Pacific career: Light and Song. Dr. Brown explains how she arrived at this theme saying, “Since I was walking in a little bit blind to how the ensemble was going to play and what music they’re going to like, I first went to music that I enjoyed and music that I love playing and performing.” After choosing a couple pieces she was familiar with, and a couple new pieces, she settled on the two distinctive but harmonious concepts. 

The program opens with Illumination by David Maslanka—“a phenomenal concert opener” that sets both the tone and the thematic brightness of the evening. Another highlight is Lightway by Jennifer Jolley, inspired by a light installation in a German airport.

“It’s incredibly important to incorporate female composers, and I’m happy we have two pieces by female composers on this program,” Dr. Brown notes. “Lightway is such a cool piece—it gives the band an opportunity to play minimalistic music based on patterns rather than melody.”

The “song” half of the theme includes pieces such as The Seal Lullaby by Eric Whitacre and Songs from Old Kentucky by Brant Karrick, which will feature a solo by alto saxophonist Sophie Caldwell. One of the pieces, called Aria di Chiesa, is originally written for voice and has been transcribed for band. “It’s a really emotional piece,” she comments. “I’m excited for the band to bring that expressiveness to the audience.”

Despite long days and limited rehearsal time, Dr. Brown describes Mondays with the ensemble as being her anchor throughout her experience in her new position. “The students have been on-board from the beginning to work hard, explore this music, and get better every week,” she reaffirms. “Getting to work with these musicians is such a privilege and has definitely been the best part of this preparation process.”

Dr. Brown expresses her wishes to grow the band holistically, not just as musicians, but as human beings. “By sensitizing ourselves to the world and the art around us, we become more sensitive artists.”