January 11, 2016
MARSHALL, Texas (1/09/16) - One East Texas Baptist University Department of Music professor will travel a great distance in order to make the first day of spring classes on Monday (Jan.11). ETBU Director of Bands Mark Crim has spent the first full week of 2016 in Mikkeli, Finland conducting the Mikkelin Kaupunginorchesteri (St. Michel String Orchestra) and serving as faculty for the conducting masterclass there.
Eight conductors from the United States and Europe with diverse backgrounds as leaders of orchestras, bands and choirs enjoyed an intense week of preparation by practicing conducting with a professional pianist, conducting the orchestra in rehearsal and performance. The conductors also spent time discussing topics relevant to the art of conducting and building a career as a conductor.
Crim, who has been teaching in the School of Communication and Performing Arts since 2008, met Finnish conductor Sasha Makila at a music conference, and the two collaborated on a similar workshop at ETBU in Marshall last May. This is Crim's second time to visit Mikkeli for the conducting masterclass.
Of his time in Finland, Crim said; "Mikkeli is a city of 48,000 with a small town feel. They have supported a full-time orchestra for over 100 years, and the city has a beautiful concert hall that hosts all kinds of events including a world-famous summer music festival. The Finnish people are warm and friendly, which is a good thing since the temperatures were minus 20 degrees for much of my stay".
Although most of the masterclass participants are experienced professionals, Crim says there are plenty of lessons that can be applied to his conducting classes and the Symphonic Band back home at ETBU. "When I work with such a fine group as the St. Michel Strings, I become a better teacher and rehearser, and the very same technique and musical issues the professionals are working on are the things my own conducting students are learning in class."
The East Texas Baptist University Symphonic Band will present their first concert of the semester on Friday, February 26 at 7:00 p.m. in Baker Auditorium on the ETBU campus. The concert will feature Marshall High School graduate Dr. Wesley Broadnax of Drexel University as guest conductor.