Tuesday
April 16th, 7:00 PM
Rialto Center for the Arts
Theme from "Lawrence of Arabia"
Maurice Jarre (1924-2009)
arr. by Alfred Reed
ed. by R. Mark Rogers
David Lean’s epic film Lawrence of Arabia was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won seven, including Best Original Score for Maurice Jarre’s masterful musical depiction of the exotic world through which T.H. Lawrence passed. Alfred Reed’s setting of the music for concert band, available here for the first time in full score with newly edited parts, is built on two of the main themes: the Arabian motif, with its blazing color and almost-barbaric effects; and the Lawrence theme, a haunting, poignant melody that reflects both his love of the desert and his internal, psychological conflicts.
- Program Note from the publisher
On the Cul-de-sac, Three O'clock, Friday Afternoon
David Holsinger (b. 1945)
Lily Isbitts & Jake Soesbee,
winners of the 2024 Undergraduate Conducting Competition
I. Lazy Branches Breathe a Sigh, Sweet Serenity Drawing Nigh …
II. School Bells Ring; Day is Done, Paid the Price; Freedom Won! …
III. Tea Parties, Doll Buggies, Baby Doll Dress. Girls Are Sensibility; Boys Are a Mess!
IV. Roller Blades and Baseball Bats; Race for the Field. What Say You Serenity? … But Time to Yield
David Holsinger's On the Cul-de-sac, Three O'clock, Friday Afternoon captures the transformation of a quiet suburban neighborhood into a bustling playground as children erupt from school. The music depicts tranquility shattered by the school bell, followed by sections portraying children's various activities - tea parties, rollerblading, and hockey games. A final return to calmness ends the piece with a touch of weekend anticipation.
- Program note by Georgia State University
Courtly Airs and Dances
Ron Nelson (1929-2023)
Douglas Tiller, graduate assistant conductor
I. Intrada
II. Basse danse (France)
III. Pavane (England)
IV. Saltarello (Italy)
V. Sarabande (Spain)
VI. Allemande (Germany)
Courtly Airs and Dances is a suite of Renaissance dances which were characteristic to five European countries during the 1500s. Three of the dances (Basse Dance, Pavane, and Allemande) are meant to emulate the music of Claude Gervaise by drawing on the style of his music as well as the characteristics of other compositions from that period. The festival opens with a fanfare-like Intrada followed by the Basse Danse (France), Pavane (England), Saltarello (Italy), Sarabande (Spain), and Allemande (Germany). The work was commissioned by the Hill Country Middle School Band from Austin, Texas, Cheryl Floyd, director.
- Program Note by the composer
Chasing Sunlight (2016)
Cait Nishimura (b. 1991)
Chasing Sunlight was inspired by the experience of driving west into the setting sun, as if trying to keep up with the earth’s rotation to catch the last few rays of light before dusk. The steady eighth-note motif throughout the piece represents this sense of urgency, while the soaring, lyrical themes depict the warmth and radiance of the sun low in the sky. Just as the sun will always set, humans must accept the impermanence of all things in life, and make the most of every opportunity before it has passed. Chasing Sunlight also represents the ongoing pursuit of these opportunities.
-Program note by the composer
T. Devin Reid
T. Devin Reid is currently an active musician and educator throughout the southeast. A native of Fayetteville, NC, Mr. Reid is a 2005 recipient of the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship. He holds a Master of Music in Wind Band Conducting from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
In 2018 Mr. Reid accepted the position as Assistant Director of Bands at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA. Prior to this, Mr. Reid served as the interim assistant director of bands for two years. In this capacity he co-teaches the Panther Marching Band, conducts the Basketball Band, conducts the University Concert Band, teaches undergraduate and graduate level conducting courses, and supervises student teachers in the field among other duties and courses. Since his arrival, the GSU Concert Band has grown to become the largest instrumental concert ensemble at the university. With Mr. Reid’s direction, the GSU Panther Band performed in 2019 as part of the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show, been accepted as a CBDNA Southern Region top marching band in 2020, and been accepted to perform in the 2022 Tournament of Roses Parade. Preceding to his appointment at Georgia State, Mr. Reid taught public school in Georgia and North Carolina and served as Graduate Assistant for the Georgia State University Bands. While teaching at James Kenan High School (NC), Mr. Reid grew the program from 0% to 10% of the school population in just three years. His ensembles performed at numerous events in and out of the community including the NC Muscadine Festival, NC PAS Day of Percussion and the Virginia International Music Festival.
Mr. Reid has presented clinics and workshops at the North Carolina Music Educators Conference, Georgia Music Educators Conference, Tennessee Music Educators Conference, South Carolina Music Educators Conference, Florida Music Educators Conference, American String Teachers Association National Conference and the Georgia State University Bands of Distinction Honor Clinic. He is a recurrent guest conductor at the International Euphonium and Tuba Festival. He is also an active concert band and marching band clinician and adjudicator throughout Georgia, Virginia and North Carolina.
As a performer, Mr. Reid is an actively sought-after musician. He was the percussionist for the popular brass quintet and Delos recording artist “Da Capo Brass”. Their debut album “From The Beginning” stormed the iTunes classical charts at #8 in January 2012. He has also been a member of the regionally acclaimed bluegrass band, “T.R. and the Boys” as baritone vocalist and mandolin player. They have three releases, and their most recent album; “Lonesome” features one of his original songs as the title track. He is a member of the National Association for Music Education, College Band Directors National Association and is an endorser for Sabian Cymbals.
Mr. Reid is happily married to his beautiful wife Amy and they reside in Powder Springs, GA with their daughter Katelynn and son Ethan.
Douglas Tiller
Graduate Assistant Conductor
Douglas Tiller is an avid conductor, educator, and instrumentalist active throughout Georgia. Most recently, he served as the Academy Band Director at Strong Rock Christian School where he oversaw a vibrant concert band program in grades fifth through eighth, in addition to serving as the Assistant Director for the award-winning Marching Patriots. Douglas also overhauled the jazz program to include a full jazz band and several combos.
Douglas received his Bachelor of Music from Georgia State University, experiencing success as a competitive chamber musician in the Augmented Triad Mixed Woodwind Trio and the Centennial Saxophone quartet, both groups placing in University and MTNA competitions in addition to presenting at conferences nationwide. Currently, Douglas has returned to Georgia State University to pursue his Master of Music in Wind Band Conducting under Dr. Robert Ambrose.
Lily Isbitts
Winner of 2024 Undergraduate Conducting Competition
Lily Isbitts is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education at Georgia State University. At Georgia State, Ms. Isbitts studied flute with Jessica Petrasek and Sarah Ambrose, and participated in the GSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Wind Orchestra, and Concert Band. She has served on the GSU Panther Band leadership team as the band librarian and piccolo section leader. Ms. Isbitts received the Undergraduate Musical Excellence scholarship where she conducted research on the programming of underrepresented composers. In January 2022, she presented this research at the GMEA In-Service Conference, as a poster session, and in April 2022 at the Georgia State University Undergraduate Research Conference, where she won first place. In 2023, Ms. Isbitts was awarded the Presser Scholarship, a prestigious award given to an undergraduate music student who demonstrates a high level of musical, academic, and leadership achievement. She is also a winner of the 2024 Undergraduate Conducting Competition, winning the opportunity to rehearse and conduct the Georgia State Concert Band in concert. Ms. Isbitts looks forward to sharing her love of the flute and of music with her students.
Jake Soesbee
Winner of the 2024 Undergraduate Conducting Competition
Jake Soesbee is currently finishing his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education at Georgia State University. In his time at Georgia State University, Jake studied clarinet with Dr. Kenneth Long and was a member of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Robert Ambrose. Jake was selected as a winner of the 2024 Georgia State University Winds and Percussion Undergraduate Conducting Competition where he studied with Professor Devin Reid and rehearsed and conducted a selection with the GSU Concert Band for their April Concert. Jake resides in Acworth, Georgia as he is student teaching with Mark Gurnow and Stephanie Grote at Allatoona High School. Jake is committed to the educational growth of his students with student teaching, during private lessons, and anytime he is on the podium. Outside of music, Jake loves to hang out with his dogs Jo, Chet, and Toby and make ceramics in his free time.