Pudong campus and Concordia act as hosts as …Wow! Great concert! Talented musicians! Great conductors! Wonderful hall!

These comments were among the superlatives heard following this historic first-ever APAC Pacific and Asia Division Combined Bands Gala Concert.  This premier event was showcased in the Orchestra Hall of the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center on Saturday, February 27. It was estimated that over 1000 members of our community enjoyed the concert.

The concert was the culminating celebration of over two days rehearsal with guest conductors:  Dr. Jerry Luckhardt, Associate Professor of Music at the University of Minnesota where he conducts Bands, Chamber Winds and courses in conducting and Dr. Robert Grechesky, Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Butler University.  SAS Pudong and Concordia International School Shanghai served as hosts for nearly 160 musicians.  The Pacific division included Brent International School Manila, Hong Kong International School, Shanghai American School-Pudong Campus, Taejon Christian International School-Daejeon, South Korea and Western Academy of Beijing.  The Asia division included Concordia International School Shanghai, Seoul Foreign School, International School Beijing, Canadian Academy-Kobe, Japan, Shanghai American School-Puxi Campus.

Students auditioned for chairs in these prestigious bands.  Like other visiting band directors, Karolina Pek (Puxi campus music teacher) and I  held intense rehearsals with the musicians before the event. 

A range of music was presented including standard works for the wind band.  Selections performed by the Asia division included English Folk Song Suite by Ralph Vaughn Williams and Pageant by Vincent Persichetti—a very involved work based on a three-note motive. 

Timothy Broege’s Sinfonia VI:  The Four Elements, offered a fresh approach that aurally alluded to Wind, Earth, Water and Fire. A rarely heard Sousa march, Who’s Who in Navy Blue edited by Frank Byrne  included a rousing band vocal section and concluded the first portion of the program.

The Pacific division began the second half of the concert with another Vaughan Williams selection, Flourish for Glorious John.  Children’s March — Over the Hills and Far Away illustrated the master hand of composer, Percy Grainger.  Like the Grainger, Andrew Boyden’s heartfelt composition, Song for Lindsay, included piano. 

The concert concluded with Robert Sheldon’s Metroplex:  Three Postcards from Manhattan — a programmatic work depicting Manhattan’s skyscrapers, jazz clubs and a frantic taxi cab ride!

This event could not have happened without the enthusiastic support of our administration, APAC AD’s, faculty, staff, parents, and the greater school community who offered housing for our visitors, provided sectional practice rooms and attended what will undoubtedly be, a musical highlight of the year.

SHANGHAI AMERICAN SCHOOL APAC BAND MEMBERS
Puxi Campus:
Flute—Geon Ah Shin (10)
Oboe—Dylan Merideth (9)
Bassoon—Vernon Chuo (12)
Clarinets—Timothy Chung (10), Min Soo Jin (11)
Bass Clarinet—Jung Ho Lim (12)
Alto Saxophone—Nalyn Siripanichigon (10) Baritone Saxophone—Sung Min Nam (12)
Trumpets—Matthew Lock (10), Byung Hoon Min (11)
Horn—Christina Wang (11)
Trombone—Kevin Luis (10)
Baritones—Michelle Lock (11), Jocelyn Shih (10)
Tuba—Helen Kim (10)
Percussion—David Kwon (11)

Pudong  Campus:
Flutes—Lily Feng (11), Wenting Xie (11), Terry
   Zhou (11)
Clarinets—Lexing Tong (9), Abe Yoon (9), Max
    Yoon (11)
Bass Clarinet—Isabelle Lin (11)
Alto Saxophones—Tait Gu (10), Kevin Zhu (10)
Tenor Saxophone—Jae Kyun Kim (10)
Trumpets—Ka Wai Godwin (10), Michael Xu (10)
Trombones—Martin Chan (12), Tori  Vincent-
   Falls (12)
Percussion—Wendy Kim (9) Richard Kong (10)
    Venus Tse (9)

By John LEONARD, HS Music Teacher, Pudong Campus