The Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Jan Wagner, wowed the audience at the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, Maryland, during its Feb. 4 world premiere performance of the newly revised, complete “Blues Symphony” by legendary jazz trumpeter, music educator and Grammy Award-winning musician Wynton Marsalis.
The performance, presented by Washington Performing Arts, was a result of a months-long residency in which Marsalis worked with the 79-piece orchestra to bring life and “swing” to the piece.
“The musicians — all Shenandoah undergraduates — were terrific,” noted a review of the performance by The Washington Post. “Trombone soloist Nathan Davis did some of the evening’s best work. In the fifth movement’s high point, he and violist Erin Reilly traded improvised blues choruses. Clarinetist Jacob Moyer was also superlative, as was trumpeter Nathaniel Hussell, whose parts required him to pull hard at the harmonic edges.”
The group also received a glowing review from Marsalis himself. “The Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony Orchestra played my music with such passion and zeal . . . I can’t sleep,” said Marsalis. “Music is always so much deeper than notes. And a group of musicians dealing with the pressure of performance showcases a confluence of aspirations put to the test of execution….Well, tonight, our young people overdelivered.”
During his residency, Marsalis also sat down with Shenandoah Conservatory Dean Michael Stepniak, Ed.D., to be interviewed as part of the conservatory’s American Icons series.
Marsalis also led a Big Band Jazz Clinic at Shenandoah — working exclusively with the National Jazz Workshop All-Star Jazz Orchestra and the Shenandoah Conservatory Jazz Ensemble — and he took some time to work with students from the West African Drumming Ensemble at John Kerr Elementary School in Winchester, Virginia.
Check out the quotes from his students:
“He makes everybody feel really comfortable and confident in their playing, and he brings a role of musicianship that I haven’t seen before. It’s an incredible experience.“
– Brent Redmond ’17, Music Performance
“A world premiere – How often are you ever going to do that, ever again, in your career?”
– Michael Divino ’14, Music Performance
“I’m shaking from all of this – it’s so exciting. I’m so happy with our performance. I’ll probably remember this for the rest of my life.”
– Erin Reilly ’16, Music Education
“I think it’s really interesting that he chose to come to Shenandoah…. It’s really an honor.
– Alex Lee ’15, Music Performance
Michael Stepniak, Ed.D., Dean of Shenandoah Conservatory on Wynton Marsalis:
“He speaks, to put it simply, from a place of profound passion, concern and awareness; and in bringing this all to the task of his life’s work, he has a clarity that enables him to look at young artists with a wise, caring gaze.”
Photos: Jason López, Scott Spriggs and Washington Performing Arts
— Contributed by Emily Burner