Reflections from latest Wind Ensemble performance
Looking back at the Bethel College Wind Ensemble's fall performance
Fall break is something students at Bethel College always look forward to. It gives them a brief intermission or reward from the stress of midterms and college life.
This year’s fall break was kick-started, last Thursday, Oct. 9th, by a performance from the Bethel College Wind Ensemble, conducted by Chris Miertschin, one of the Assistant Professors of Music at the college.
The performance featured instruments such as flute, trombone, clarinet, euphonium, saxophone, tuba, percussion, trumpet, and horn. During this performance, audience members heard songs including Light Cavalry Overture, Harvest Hymn, Third Suite, Salvation is Created, and Galop Infernal from “Orpheus in the Underworld.”
Based on audience reactions, the crowd favorite tune seemed to be the Galop Infernal. This song was written by Jacques Offenbach and is more commonly known as the “Can-can.”
Members of the audience picked up on this familiarity quite fast. They could even be seen doing the Can-Can in their seats!
For any who may be looking to get more involved, the wind ensemble is made up of students from a variety of different areas, lots of them coming from other extracurricular groups such as the choir, theater, or athletics. Bethel offers a unique environment where students can thrive in multiple areas.
Katelyn Johnston, a freshman from Longmont, Colorado, is one of these students. Johnston plays the bass clarinet for the Bethel College Wind Ensemble and is also a member of the softball team.
When asked about this concert, Johnston shared that events such as these put on by the music department allow others to “learn a little more about a different culture on campus.”
“We play a variety of styles and you can learn a lot from listening to those styles,” Johnston added.
Johnston also mentioned that “the thing that sets this group apart from other ensembles is the fact that we play a large variety of literature.”
Stay tuned for upcoming fine arts events!