The Midwest Clinic (or "Band Freak Heaven")

The Midwest Clinic or, as I'm referring to it - "Band Freak Heaven", runs annually in Chicago.  You can read more about it here.  It is a non-stop explosion of concerts, performances, presentations, exhibitions - all to do with band and orchestra directing.  For a musician, especially a teacher, this is once-in-a-lifetime kinda stuff and I feel  especially privileged to have been able to attend twice now.  There were approximately 15,000 people in attendance - all held in the West Building at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Worth mentioning - McCormick Place is enormous.  It's the size of, literally, one billion Brisbane Convention Centres.  An aerial view looks like this:

McCormick Place, Chicago

Note that the building on the left of that image is massive and, notably, separate from the other buildings.  This is the East wing.  The West wing, where the conference is held, is on the right of that image.  They are not close together.  Some advice:  when the taxi driver asks you which wing you want to go to, say "West", not East.  As I am now aware, the walk from one side of this building to the other requires fitness, patience, good walking shoes, an overnight duffle bag (with an array of necessary toiletries) and a camel.  We all make silly mistakes (and, believe me, it only happened once), but I'm sure I looked like this when I arrived at the conference on the 2nd day:

It was a pretty special conference - allow me to share some amazing highlights:

Atascocita High School Chamber Strings

Amazing 25-piece String Orchestra.  Incredible intonation and control of baroque style.

Concerto a quarttro da chiesa, Op.2, No. 5 - Evaristo Felice dall'Abaco
Little Suite for Strings in A minor, Op. 1 - Carl August Nielsen

Kiski Area High School Jazz Ensemble

Amazing young soloists - such confidence!  Super-tight ensemble.
Gumbo Street - Gordon Goodwin
Even More Blues (But My Abscessed Tooth Is Fine Now...Thanks) - Matt Catingub

Jodie Blackshaw - Presentation

Jodie is a champion.  Her presentation was inspiring and engaging.  The ideas she shared about beginning band and developing musicianship are smart, exciting and totally achievable.  She has a huge future ahead of her as a composer and teacher. Watch out Year 5s, here I come!

Leonard Slatkin - Conductor

The great Leonard Slatkin was in the house.  I saw him rehearse the Evanston Township High School Symphony Orchestra (they played Tchaikovsky's The Nutrcacker Suite - the real one.  Kids.  Incredible.) and later conduct in concert, in what was a totally marvelous performance, The Lone Star Wind Orchestra from Texas.  The maturity he was able to glean from the students was extraordinary.

Lone Star Wind Orchestra

Possibly the finest school band I have ever heard.  They perform with great technical mastery and profound musical maturity.  Totally sublime.  This group received three standing ovations (two during, and one at the conclusion), all totally deserved.

Stubernic Fantasy: Concerto for Three Marimbists and Wind Ensemble - Mark Ford

Double Play, mvt II: Tempus Fugit - Cindy McTee

Pines of Rome, mvts I, II & IV - Respighi arr. Yoshihiro Kimura

Pines of Rome, conducted by Slatkin, was totally astounding.  Breathtaking stuff.

Wynton Marsalis

Wynton Marsalis took part in an open rehearsal with the Dillard Center for the Arts Jazz Ensemble and then, later in the evening, delivered a keynote address.  He changed kids' lives in front of us during the open rehearsal - there were tears from the students and from the observing audience.  A genius at work.  His keynote address was truly empowering.  I believe that music in schools is essential in so many ways yet, in the end, it's not actually about music-making.  It's about providing the students with an opportunity to:

- build self-confidence and self-worth, 

- value teamwork and the individual contributions within this, 

- achieve personal and communal goals, 

- develop true discipline and determination,

and heaps more - I could go on but won't (you're welcome).

Hearing a living legend like Wynton Marsalis speak about these things is totally inspiring and validating on so many levels - personal and professional.  Amazing.

Wheaton Municipal Band

Community music at its very best.  This ensemble is tremendous and, obviously, totally dedicated to their art.

La Fiesta Mexicana - H. Owen Reed

The Maker's Mark Overture for Band - Ryan Nowlin

Marcus High School Wind Symphony

Another superb school ensemble.  The repertoire that this group played was well-selected and, of all the school ensembles I heard play, they were the most musical.  The students played with such maturity - a performance full of true moments of magic, stunning to hear and see.  As conducted by John Whitwell, their performance of the Bach Fantastia in G was perfect.

Vanity Fair - Percy Fletcher, arr. Brant Karrick

American Journey - John Williams, arr. Paul Lavender

Fantasia in G - Bach

Within the Castle Walls - Brian Balmages

I may have some things to sort through when I get home...

The conference only lasted three and a half days, but it has filled me with years of inspiration and ideas.  As hoped, I have a renewed determination and passion for ensemble music-making.  Dear Midwest Clinic, See you next year.  From David.