D'un matin de printemps (Of a Spring Morning) was composed shortly before Boulanger's death in 1917. Originally written for violin and piano, Boulanger created a version for full orchestra several months later, showing off her talents of excating vivid and vibrant colors, and creating a variety of textures that range from soloistic to sonorous. - Jack Hontz
Morten Lauriden's choral setting of "O Magnum Mysterium" ("O Great Mystery") has become one of the world's most perform and recorde compositions since its 1994 premiere by the Los Angeles Master Chorale conducted by Paul Salamunovich. About his setting, Morten Lauridsen writes, "For centuries, composers have been inspired by the beautiful O Magnum Mysterium text with its depiction of birth of the new-born King amongst the lowly animals and shephards. This affirmation of God's grace to the meek and adoration of the Blessed Virgin are celebrated in my setting through a quiet song of profound inner joy." H. Robert Reynolds has arranged the symphonic wind version of this popular work with the approval and appreciation of the composer. - H. Robert Reynolds
Latin Text: O magnum mysterium, et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, iacentem in praespio! O beata virgo, cuius viscera meruerunt portare Dominum lesum Christum, Alleluia!
English Text: O great mystery, and wonderful sacrament, that animals should see the newborn Lord, lying in a manger! O blessed virgin, whose womb was worthy to bear the Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia!
La Creation du Monde was written in 1923 for 18 musicians. This ballet depicts the creation of the world based on African folk mythology. It includes five movements: The Chaos before Creation, The Birth of Plants and Animals, The Birth of Man and Woman, The Desire (of Man and Woman), and Spring or Healing. The premiere took place on October 25, 1923 in Paris. Milhaud was inspired by jazz with its uses of individual instrument colors and juxaposition of one another in an ensemble setting. Leonard Berstein writes, "The Creation of the World emerges not as a flirtation but as a real love affair with jazz."
Festival Variations was commissioned by the United States Air Force Band, Colonel Arnold D. Gabriel, Commander/Conductor, and dedicated to the Music Educators National Conference on the occasion of its 75th anniversary. Smith takes us on a journey of fanfares, lyrical passages, and solos with this composition.
Dr. Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin is Director of Wind Band Studies and Assistant Professor of Music at Penn State University. In addition to conducting the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, overseeing the graduate wind conducting program, teaching courses in wind band literature and wind conducting, she oversees all aspects of the concert bands at Penn State. Her appointment at PSU follows three years as Assistant Director of Bands and Associate Director of Athletic Bands at the University of South Carolina. Prior to her time at UofSC, Mitchell-Spradlin taught at Valdosta State University as Director of Athletic Bands, and was Director of Bands at Chamblee High School in Chamblee, Georgia for four years.
Mitchell-Spradlin has a diverse background as a conductor, clinician, adjudicator, educator, and speaker. She is a Conn Selmer educator and frequent guest conductor with performances with several regional honor bands, Allstate bands, summer camps and clinics, and residencies at public schools and collegiate institutions. She is active in the teaching of conducting having served as clinician for the UMKC Conducting Symposium and the President’s Own Marine Band Conductor Training Program.
As a presenter, Mitchell-Spradlin speaks often about programming, forming a connection with musicians, building culture, musical leadership, and inclusivity in the band medium. She has shared musical and pedagogical ideas on several music podcasts including Everything Band, Conn Selmer’s Backstage with Dr. Tim, The Bandroom, and the Ictus Podcast. Presentations include invited sessions at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, College Music Society, the College Band Directors National Association, SCMEA, KMEA, NYSBDA, and keynote presenter for the NAfME Northwest conference. Her international speaking engagements include presenting the keynote for the Maryborough Music Conference in Australia and a session on Joan Tower’s Fanfares for the Uncommon Woman for the International Society for the Advancement and Promotion of Wind Band Society (IGEB) in Oberwölz, Austria.
A proponent for advancing the wind ensemble medium, she led the consortium and premiere of Aaron Perrine’s Beneath a Canvas of Green for wind ensemble and percussion quartet which was also the source of her doctoral dissertation. Additionally, she is active in a number of premieres and consortiums for new music.
Under her direction, the Penn State Symphonic Wind Ensemble has received several honors including a performance at the prestigious Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh, PA as part of Penn State’s President’s Concert as well as an invitation to perform at the College Band Directors National Association Eastern Region Conference in Ithaca, New York. The ensemble has recorded The Hardscrabble by Sarah Gen Burghart Rice for wind ensemble and 12+ double reeds for release on Neuma Records as well as Evan Ziporyn’s Impulse Control – concerto for drumset and wind ensemble for release on Parma Records.
Mitchell-Spradlin served as the National Vice President of Professional Relations for Tau Beta Sigma: National Honorary Band Sorority for two years. She serves on the National Band Association Selective Music List Committee, the College Band Directors National Association Diversity Committee, and also holds memberships in the College Band Directors National Association, College Music Society, PMEA, National Association for Music Education, Black Women Band Directors Association, and Women Band Directors International.
James Gates is a second year MM in Wind Conducting student, studying with Dr. Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin. As a graduate assistant conductor, Mr. Gates works with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Concert Band. He also holds a graduate assistant appointment with the Penn State athletic bands, working with the Pride of the Lions pep band and the PSU Marching Blue Band. Outside of conducting, Mr. Gates studies trombone with Mark Lusk and is a member of the Penn State Trombone Choir.
Prior to coming to Penn State, Gates taught in the Massillon City Schools (OH), conducting the Junior High Bands, and the Middle School Jazz Band. He also led the Washington High School Basketball Band, and served as Assistant Director of the Massillon Tiger Swing Band. Under Gates’ direction, the Junior High Bands consistently received Superior ratings at OMEA Large Group Adjudicated Events. Gates was named the 2019 Massillon Junior High School Rookie Teacher of the Year and was a 2021 Canton Symphony Orchestra Music Educator of the Year finalist.
Gates earned his BM in Music Education degree from the University of Akron in 2017, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Gates holds professional memberships in CBDNA, the Ohio Music Education Association and the International Trombone Association. He regularly attends the annual Midwest Clinic and OMEA Professional Development Conference, presenting both as a performer (2016) and clinician (2020). Gates' session From Application to Accepted: Preparing for Graduate Conducting Studies will be presented at the upcoming 2023 Midwest Clinic.