Lucia Iandolo/Ithaca Week
Members of the clarinet section in the wind ensemble play “The Cowboys Overture” by John Williams as part of their program.
On Sept. 14, the Ithaca College Concert Band and Wind Ensemble traveled to Dewitt Park, in the heart of downtown Ithaca, to perform at the 33rd Annual Founder’s Day Concert. The concert was free and open to all, with many community members in attendance.
Benjamin Rochford, conductor of the Ithaca College Concert Band, said there is something special about performing outdoors in downtown Ithaca because of the service the bands are providing to the community. He said the history of outdoor concerts is unique, and doing this event provides students with the opportunity to gain experience playing their instruments in a different setting.
“Pedagogically, the experience of them being able to step into an environment that’s different and uncontrolled and unpredictable, I think it really allows them to focus on things that they wouldn’t normally have to,” Rochford said.
Daniel Cook, conductor of the Ithaca College Wind Ensemble, said while he hopes the group takes this learning process seriously, he also hopes they find joy in performing together and feel proud of the accomplishment of performing at this concert.
“They’re here to learn, grow, and develop, but I hope that as they develop those skills, they feel some degree of joy about what they were able to do,” Cook said.
Beverly Baker, a 1954 graduate of Ithaca College, is the 33-year sponsor of the event and has been in attendance each year. Rochford said her continued support is the reason why the event can go on, and he hopes to show her how important her contributions are to the ensembles that perform.
“I’m motivated to try to get them to sound as good as they can for her, because of all the things that she does. I mean, she could be doing anything right now, and she chooses to come support us, be at this, and provide the students with this opportunity,” Rochford said.
Reid Canham, junior music education and performance major, is a member of the Wind Ensemble under the direction of Daniel Cook. Canham plays the oboe and has been in the ensemble for three years. He said what he enjoys most about being in the group is the sense of community that has been created.
“There might be days when it’s just really tough. We always stick together and have that mindset of, we’re gonna work together, we’re gonna get better, and it’ll sound great,” Canham said.
Canham said that playing for the community proved nerve-racking at first, but after performing at the concert multiple times, he now enjoys interacting with people who share the same love for music.
“I don’t know them, I don’t know if they play an instrument or if they have a music background, but they appreciate the art regardless, and that is the fulfilling thing about performing and sharing with the community,” Canham said.