Wednesday, November 4, 2020
North Idaho College is hosting two of its annual “Gathering of Bands” concerts at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, and Thursday, Nov. 14, in the Boswell Hall Schuler Performing Arts Center on NIC’s main campus. Each night, students from local middle schools gather to make music under the direction of guest clinician, Dr. Michael Keepe.
Keepe is a resident of Coeur d’Alene who runs the North Idaho Saxophone Academy. He also teaches at Bella Note Music Studios in Sandpoint and works at the Festival at Sandpoint Summer Youth Music Camp. He has served on faculties at the Fred Fox School of music at the University of Arizona, Pima Community College, The Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and as band director for Tucson Unified School District.
“It’s that time of the year again! During our two-night event we will showcase over 300 students coming from 12 different middle schools that will form the Gathering Band,” said NIC Band Director Bryan Hannaford.
Students will perform music by Richard Saucedo, Warren Barker, Robert W. Smith, Erik Morales, and local composer Tom Tucker. There will also be performances by a percussion ensemble led by Tim Sandford, Instrumental Music director at Lake City High School, and a performance by the North Idaho College Wind Symphony led by Hannaford.
The NIC Wind Symphony will be performing works by Pete Meechan, Gustav Holst, Mark Camphouse, Michael Markowski, and John Philip Sousa.
“I’m excited for the Wind Symphony to perform Michael Markowski’s ‘Famishius Fantasticus,’” Hannaford said.
The music is inspired by Looney Tunes, but without animation. There will be some visual gags during this existential cat-and-mouse or coyote-and-roadrunner chase.
“It will be an amazing musical experience for our audience of young musicians and people of all ages and musical levels,” Hannaford said. “Make sure to mark your calendar for either night.”
The NIC Wind Symphony is a community group with more than 2,000 years of playing experience. The multi-generational group blends high school students, college students and community members into one ensemble to create art.
The concert is free and open to the public.
Information: (208) 769-3258.