An intercollegiate concert band will be available for students, faculty and staff next fall, thanks to a joint effort between Saint Louis University, Washington University and Maryville University.
The 60 member concert band aims to “appeal to the serious student who wants more of a concert setting than a recreational one,” according to Dan Presgrave, director of instrumental ensembles at Washington University.
The concert band, open to all, will perform twice each semester at locations yet to be determined. “Ideally, we would like to perform on each campus participating,” Presgrave said.
Rehearsals will take place every Thursday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. at the West Campus Rehearsal Hall at Washington University. The band will most likely perform 20th century concert band music; however, “the repetoire is changing on a daily basis,” Presgrave said.
Presgrave, who came up with the idea of an intercollegiate band, said that responses from the band’s planning committee have been enthusiastic and supportive. The committee consists of faculty and students from all three universities.
Beth Fielder, a SLU student and bassoonist who sits on the committee, said that ensemble opportunities at SLU-brass and woodwind ensembles-are “lacking quite a bit.”
“There’s not much here,” Fielder said, “and that’s an area where we’d like to improve.”
Having established the purpose of the band, the committee is focusing on how to conduct auditions and how to advertise to interested musicians.
Presgrave noted that one reason ensembles suffer from lack of membership is time conflict.
“We’re at a point now where we need change,” he said. “Right now, students have labs and other things they have to do . We wanted to do something that would be absolutely, radically different.”
Presgrave added that the band will provide students from all three universities the chance to interact in different environments.
Fielder expressed her enthusiasm for the band. “I think this is a good idea,” she said.
“This way, more people can get involved and don’t have to worry about being at different talent levels.”
