NIC to host ‘Gathering of the Bands' Nov. 14-15
North Idaho College is hosting two of its annual “Gathering of Bands” concerts at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, and Thursday, Nov. 15, 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 Dr. Gary Ciepluch. Ciepluch retired from Case Western Reserve University in 2016. He brings a broad knowledge and background in contemporary wind music and music education. Before working at Case Western Reserve University, Ciepluch was assistant director and acting director of bands at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, director of bands at the University of Dayton, and the director of bands at Whitefish Bay High School in Wisconsin.
Since 1994, his Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony performed on 12 international concert tours, traveling to Germany, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, France, Scotland, England, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Hungary, Luxembourg, Austria, and the Netherlands. In February 2015, the CYWS performed at the Ohio Music Educators State Convention in Cleveland for the ninth time. In January 2016, Ciepluch was recognized as the 2016 Outstanding Educator for exemplary leadership, service and commitment to excellence in music education by the Ohio Music Education Association.
“It’s that time of the year again! This experience is not just for students, who get a chance to make music with new friends from other schools, but also an opportunity for the middle school band directors to learn from Dr. Ciepluch,” said NIC Band Director Bryan Hannaford.
Students will perform music by Timothy Broege, Larry Clark, Ralph Hultgren, Pierre LaPlante, and 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 NIC Wind Symphony led by Hannaford.
The NIC Wind Symphony will be performing works by Johan de Meij, Percy Grainger, Ennio Morricone, and John Philip Sousa.
“I’m excited for the Wind Symphony to perform ‘Irish Tune from County Derry’ under the baton of Dr. Ciepluch. As a graduate student and instrumental coach for the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony, I shared wonderful experiences in his ensembles,” Hannaford said.
The wind symphony will be performing two movements from Johan de Meij’s Symphony No. 1 “Lord of the Rings,” which was the first symphony for concert band written by Johan de Meij. The symphony, that premiered in 1988, is based on literary themes from the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien.
“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.
Posted: Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018
