UHS’s Wind Ensemble and ASU’s Concerto Competition
It’s been an anxious month and a half but I finally got the recording of the University High School Wind Ensemble! Linh was so excited that she opened the package before I could. But that’s okay because she colored a picture of Stitch for me (she likes those movies… and cries when I take her to see Saw II… I’m a bad boyfriend :-P).
Anyway, after we got the mail, we went into my room, turned on the computer and popped it in (the cd). The group did an amazing job (especially for the hell I put them through in the key of D… and the tempo)! I especially dig the brass sound–you can tell this band kicks ass on the marching band field. The brass is bright and sharp — exactly how I envisioned it should be–cutting through the thick textures, interrupting each new idea. On the other end, for the few moments that are sweet and fluid, they instantly adapted a more mellow, buttery tone. So props to the brass (and I’m a sax guy)! Props to the whole group for taking on a hard-ass piece by such an amatuer composer :-). Hope you guys enjoyed performing it! The rest of the CD sounds great too, especially the Ticheli (always a fan of Ticheli).
Speaking of band performances, I just found out yesterday via an email that I am the winner of ASU’s “concerto competition” for concert band! How cool is that?! I received an email from Martin Province that went something like this:
“Michael,
Congratulations on winning the “Concerto Competition” in composition. I remember hearing “Joyride” last year when I visited Dobson High School. We are working to program one of the 2 works this spring, and I need some information. I have scores, but do you have recordings (live or midi) for either or both the pieces. If not what is the length of each? Do you have parts readily available?
We are trying to include this on a concert on Feb. 14, so if you could get back to me quickly that would be ideal. I look forward to hearing from you.
Martin Province
Assoc. Dir. of Bands”
I submitted both joyRiDE and Shadow Rituals though I would think joyRiDE has more to offer a college group than Shadow does. Unfortunately, Joyride is only between 2 and a half to three minutes and Shadow is around 4. Maybe he’ll decide to program joyride as an opener (it works well that way). I’m not too sure on the details of the performance; this email is the first I’ve heard about it. Either way, I’m wicked excited about it!
November 23rd, 2005 at 7:10 pm
Howdy Mr. Markowski!!
I know…im strange…
Im glad you enjoyed the wind ensemble’s performance. Mr. Obado should be pleased…should be. I did elaborate on my “silence is music” post in case you wanted to know.
It’s kinda of wierd asking you this…but you have a GF so maybe you can help me…See, theres this guy and…well,how do you know when someone likes you, like you like them, without making yourself look really stupid?
November 23rd, 2005 at 8:04 pm
Haha, wow, you are sooo asking the wrong person. You can’t really like someone and not not look stupid. My advice: 1) don’t ask me for advice 2) be casual about it 3) ask him out to a movie with some friends 4) if he hangs around you and talks to you a lot, he probably digs you 5) why not make a move? 6) rejection is fun 7) don’t ask me for advice
Just have fun! 
November 23rd, 2005 at 9:31 pm
Yay! I don’t know how many times I’ve said it, but Congrats on getting your pieces recognized for the ASU competition babe! And great job to the UHS for even trying to play joyride– it takes a lot of guts to play something like that (but how would I know….Im not a band person haha) but Im sure you guys made Michael proud!
AND…you can like someone and not look stupid…if you act like yourself and dont try to act differently when you’re around that person you like, then you shouldnt look stupid at all b/c you’re just being yourself. And if you really do do something silly..so what? you’re just being yourself! (very cliche, yes i know) and i agree with michael’s #4
p.s. my Stitch is way cool- I dig him
November 24th, 2005 at 10:13 am
You guys rock. I feel better. It kinda sucks sometimes because, I’m not the only girl who likes him…well everyone likes him, but there are these couple of girls that are older than me and get to hang with him more and when they talk to him it’s like they’ve known each other forever. And there’s me, the short freshmen who has nothing interesting to talk about except band. but there’s been a few times that make me wonder maybe….
On top of that i have a recital coming up and my chair auditions were yesterday and i won’t know the results till MON. :’( *sniff*
AH! I have to go practice…