By Beth Taylor
On May 17, Hamilton Southeastern High School’s much-lauded Wind Ensemble will play with the Indiana Wind Symphony at the Palladium in Carmel. After months of hard work, the students are ready to share their talents and hard work at the breathtaking Hamilton County venue.
“Director Dr. Charles Conrad of the Indiana Wind Symphony (IWS) contacted us about three months ago,” said HSE Band Director, Mike Niemiec. Conrad is the founder and music director of the IWS since its inception in 1997. The concert, American Tapestry, will be the final performance of the season for the IWS.
“We’ve been very visible. We’ve played at Carnegie Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and we were also finalists at the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) state finals,” Niemiec said.
The 54-student wind ensemble is comprised of advanced music students. “We were chosen based on the strength of our juniors and seniors. They will perform “Festivo” by Edward Gregson as well as “Aurora” by Thomas Doss. After three months of preparation, Niemiec and John Cook, also an HSE band director, are readying the ensemble in class and during after school practice.
After the ensemble performs the two pieces, senior Kristin Darling will accompany Indiana University School of Music professor and trumpet virtuoso, John Rommel, along with Conrad for “Bugler’s Holiday.”
“Kristin is a true talent on the trumpet. She truly deserves to be in this trio of outstanding musicians,” Niemiec said.
“This is the first year we’ve worked with a high school band. We wanted to increase our educational support,” said Conrad. He plans to expand the opportunity to other local high school bands next season.
“We’re really looking forward to sharing our music in a great concert hall along with the Indiana Wind Symphony, and I feel so proud to be the first featured high school band,” added Niemiec.
American Tapestry featuring HSE Wind Ensemble
May 17 at 7:30 p.m.
The Palladium
One Center Green
Carmel, IN 46032
Go to www.indianawindsymphony.org for more information
