(Columbus Academy Flickr)

Academy’s Upper School concert band traveled to Capital University for the second time this year on Tuesday, February 25, to perform on the big stage and performed its program for its upcoming OMEA contest on March 7, capitalizing on the opportunity to familiarize itself with a larger stage and gain valuable experience performing in a concert setting.

The concert commenced with Lisa Galvin’s fast-paced “Excursion!” which draws on themes from the well-known “Fifteen Miles on the Erie Canal” folk song, aiming to evoke the excitement of traveling along the historic waterway. The composition features a piccolo solo nodding to the Irish heritage of the canal workers and a challenging clarinet solo, driving the piece to a fun and exhilarating ending. 

Next up was Jacob de Haan’s beautiful, lyrical piece “Ammerland.” Named after the scenic Ammerland region of Germany, the piece uses flowing melodies to evoke its peaceful and picturesque landscape, utilizing long, flowing phrases to contrast the fast-paced energetic excitement of Excursion. 

To cap the night, the band performed John Mackey’s “Undertow,” a thrilling and rhythmically intense piece that required full focus. The driving percussion and low brass set the foundation for the piece, mixing with sporadic bursts from the woodwinds to create an urgent sense of controlled chaos. 

Things are looking promising for Academy’s band as it heads to Teays Valley on Friday, March 7, for its upcoming OMEA contest.