Selecting Repertoire by Craig Kirchhoff
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Spring 2019 Selecting Repertoire by Craig Kirchhoff Photos courtesy of Jolesch Enterprises NATIONAL CHOIR FESTIVAL INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46206 IN INDIANAPOLIS, PERMIT NO. 2145 NO. PERMIT Indianapolis, IN 46225 IN Indianapolis, U.S. POSTAGE PAID POSTAGE U.S. National Presenting Sponsor 150 Suite Place, Jackson W. 39 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION NON-PROFIT Music for All, Inc. All, for Music THE FOSTER AWARD OF EXCELLENCE WINNER: OLIVEIRA MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND An Interview with Gaspar Garcia | Director of Oliveira Middle School Band By Sarah Eutsler The 2018-2019 Dr. William P. Foster classroom facing a host of problems at Music Education Alliance Award for home, including divorce, immigration, and Excellence was awarded to Oliveira hunger. “We really, really never know what’s Middle School in Brownsville, Texas, at going on at home,” he said. December’s Midwest Clinic in Chicago. Music for All joins forces with the College Building trust is important: “ We try Band Directors National Association to connect a lot with students through (CBDNA) and the National Band sectionals,” Garcia said. With those Association (NBA) to annually recognize But on paper, the odds seem stacked rehearsals the average member can spend outstanding music programs serving against them: Nestled on the southern up to four hours a day with the directors historically disadvantaged student tip of Texas along the Gulf of Mexico, and fellow members, allowing them to build populations through the Foster Project and Brownsville shares its border with personal connections. “Then they feel like Award for Excellence is an initiative of the Metamoros, Mexico. The cultures and they can come to us,” he said. Music Education Alliance. heritage of the two cities blend together That trust is important when it comes and are often reflected through the band’s to addressing problems. Garcia said he musical selections. They’re also reflected in has seen kids reform in the program, the student population; Oliveira Middle abandoning some of their behavioral School’s student body of over 1,200 problems. Being open to sitting down and students is almost 100% Hispanic, the talking with the students who are acting majority coming from low income homes. out is key, allowing them to get more insight While this has often been a financial into what is going on in their lives. This barrier for music programs, Oliveira, a approach was particularly important with Title I school, has risen to the challenge one student who turned out to be involved of adversity and flourished. Today, the in a human trafficking situation. program is over 400 members strong “[That conversation] would have never and the largest band in the Brownsville happened had I shut the door,” Garcia said. Independent School District (ISD). “We have a very high standard from the Together the band has built a family- very beginning,” said Garcia, who has been like environment: Members often refer the Oliveira director since 2013. to the directors by family titles – dad, Led by Director Gaspar Garcia and uncle, grandpa, and big brother. All of the Assistant Directors Michael Kuntz, Victor But the team of directors also recognizes directors are fathers themselves. “We treat Franco, and Robert Barron, the Oliveira the fine line between being tough and them like their own kids,” Garcia said. Middle School band has proven to be a building relationships with the students: “We’re disappointed when they make powerhouse driven by excellence, frequently He noted that members walk into the mistakes but then we move on.” taking home distinguished awards on state and national levels. The 2018-2019 Dr. William P. Foster Music Education Alliance Award for Excellence recipient Oliveira M.S. Band, Brownsville, TX 2 Members are encouraged to give back in The band also fundraises every year to the program, not only to the Brownsville cover 100% of their trip to music festivals, community, where they frequently perform, where the Symphonic Band has received but to each other. Superior Ratings, Best in Class, and Best Kids leaving Oliveira are encouraged to Band Overall. make a mark and leave something behind. The band’s trip to San Antonio is special Music for All Newsletter Some write letters of encouragement. Those for many members who have not had an Winter Issue who are not continuing with band donate opportunity to travel before. Spring Issue their instruments back into the program, “A lot of kids do not and are not allowed to Fall Issue one of the key ways they continue to get travel because of immigration status,” Garcia Orchestra Issue Middle School Issue instruments into students’ hands. Older said. Some kids have even joined the band just students are also welcomed back to the for the trip, which Garcia doesn’t completely Music for All, Inc. program to help out. disapprove of; he’d rather have them in his 39W. Jackson Pl., Ste. 150 “We always use former band kids who classroom than getting in trouble elsewhere. Indianapolis, IN 46225-1010 are in high school,” Garcia said. “We literally 317.636.2263 • www.musicforall.org treat them like other directors.” The students The impact of the program isn’t just respond well to this set-up. “There’s a lot of limited to the band program walls: Oliveira mentorship in this program.” Principal Cynthia S. Castro notes that the Eric L. Martin, Esq./ Maddie Fitzgerald CFEE Participant Relations Building pride among members and hard work and discipline members exhibit President & CEO Coordinator creating a tight-knit band community is a often spill over into all aspects of the student’s large piece of their success. But there are still academic life. The community also takes Nancy H. Carlson Conlon Griesmer Executive Vice President Events Coordinator financial challenges. pride in Oliveira’s success. During the state’s & CFO 85th Legislative Session, Texas State Senator Jessica Hjellming Eddie Lucio presented proclamations in Jeremy L. Earnhart Participant Relations “Give them every Vice President & COO Coordinator honor of both the band and Garcia. chance they need, they “By every standard, the Oliveira Debbie Laferty Asbill Lori Lobsiger Vice President of Marketing Choir Coordinator Symphonic Band is one of the most & Communications just need someone outstanding bands in the Lower Rio Grande Kim Mann Valley, and the most distinguished middle Paul St. Angelo Choir Coordinator to believe in them.” Vice President of Karissa Mills school band in Brownsville, Texas,” Castro Advancement “Many students do have a difficult time said. Administrative Assistant/ Receptionist paying for an instrument so they can Their recognitions include the Symphonic Laura Blake participate in the band program,” said Paul Band’s consistent Superior Ratings from Director of Events Elise Middleton Advancement Coordinator Flinchbaugh, retired Brownsville ISD the University Interscholastic League and Erin Fortune Supervisor of Instrumental Music. “Garcia being the only middle school in the district Director of Sponsorships Sarah McKinley Accounting Assistant and his staff have helped the students and region to advance to the Texas Music Norman Lasiter overcome these circumstances.” Educators Association state level competition, Office Manager and Jessica Morgan “My job, for me, is to teach them,” Garcia where they received 5th in their class for Executive Assistant Marketing Coordinator to the CEO and COO said. There’s no judgement for financial Honor Band in 2015. In both 2016 and Nick Ramsey struggles and he focuses on doing what’s 2017 they received National Wind Band Sarah Loughery Event Coordinator Controller necessary to get an instrument into a student’s Honors National Winner Awards from the Patrick Rutledge hands. Foundation of Music Education’s Mark of Camilla M. Stasa Advocacy and Educational Excellence program. Director of Participant Resources Coordinator Fundraising plays a significant role: While Brownsville band programs have Relations & Special Projects James Stephens Like many other programs, they utilize had their successes through the years – Trevor Badgero opportunities like student lock-ins and including Oliveira being a 1987 state CC Director of Advocacy & Educational Resources Systems Intern popcorn sales to raise money. They also Honor Band Champion – Garcia and his Mark Sternberg Morgan Dean seek out and apply for grants to ease fellow directors are paving the way for a new Participant Relations Intern family’s financial burdens and give students generation of program prestige and impact on Events Manager Emily Hoyland rewarding growth opportunities. As a Mr. students throughout the community. Emily Ambriz Advocacy and Educational Holland’s Opus Foundation grant recipient, At the end of the day, Garcia sees the Marketing Coordinator Resources Intern the program has been able to put over program’s success as a matter of never giving Sam Cantor Abi Tarnow $40,000 in instruments into students’ hands. up on the students. “Give them every chance Events Coordinator Marketing Intern Numerous members of the band have also they need,” he said. “They just need someone Maxwell Cathala had opportunities to attend summer band to believe in them.” ■ Systems Specialist camp programs at Texas universities for free Learn more about the Music Education thanks to $10,000 in grant funding from the Alliance & Dr. William P. Foster Project at Lagunitas Brewing Foundation. www.musicedalliance.org 3 Photos courtesy of Jolesch Enterprises MIDDLE SCHOOL One-on-One Directors’ Lounge: Our Directors’ Lounge brings you a one-on- TEACHER TRACK AT THE one personal consultation on your program, show design, conducting, concert programming, drill writing, and more. It’s like a private lesson with leading experts in the Master Teacher Lounge, Marching Design Lounge, and Technology Lounge. Universal Pedagogy: Whether you’re experienced or at the start of your career; in a rural, urban, or suburban setting; at a small school or large one, the pedagogy offered is relevant to band directors from a wide range of teaching environments.