Music Notes
The Plymouth High School Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and close to 80 students from the PHS concert bands will participate in a historic Chinese exchange concert, which will include one thousand performers, primarily representing Chinese and American culture in a two-hour gala concert at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, Chicago, on Sunday, September 17, 2017 by presenting “Friendship Lasts Forever.”
The cast includes a leading pop music artist from China, a 100-piece concert band, a 400-voice massed choir, a 400-piece massed band, and 100 dancers in traditional Chinese attire. The performers represent 40 different groups and come from seven states, China, and India.
The Plymouth High School concert bands, under the direction of Bryan Ames, have been selected to be a performing ensemble in what has been called one of the major Chinese cultural events of the year. “We are very excited to be included in this event and are looking forward to this performance. Our students have been working hard since school began to prepare for this event,” said Ames. “Friendship Lasts Forever” is a great example of music education in action, and is a model for international harmony and world peace. One of the conductors for the concert is Jeffrey Scott Doebler, the founder, and conductor of Windiana Concert Band, and director of music education and bands at Valparaiso University. Dr. Doebler is a former president of the Indiana Bandmasters Association and the Indiana Music Education Association.
Dr. Doebler has visited China twelve times. All were teaching trips, and nine of the twelve were concert tours with Windiana Concert Band. Windiana has performed for the national conventions of the Association of Concert Bands and the National Chinese Language Conference.
The Valparaiso University Chamber Concert Band has toured the USA, Canada, and three times to Malta, including a private concert for the president of Malta. They have also performed in Chicago’s Orchestra Hall and Severance Hall in Cleveland.
The concert’s grand finale will feature three selections performed by all 1,000 of the festival participants: the famous Chinese folk song “Jasmine Flower,” the epic Chinese television theme “Song of Heroes,” and “Friendship Lasts Forever (Auld Lang Syne),” which was made popular in China by the American film “Waterloo Bridge.”
Special guest performances will include Zun Huo, Chinese popular music artist, and national singing champion.
Professional ensembles will include:
- Windiana Concert Band
- Valparaiso University Chamber Concert Band
- Meifeng Chinese Music Ensemble
- Silk Cedar
- The Herald Trumpets of Valparaiso University
- The mass concert band will include:
- Clark High School Band
- Griffith High School Band
- Morton High School Band
- New Prairie High School Band
- Plymouth High School Band
- Valparaiso University Luce Concert Band
- Valparaiso Community/University Concert Band
- Wirt-Emerson High School Band
- Dance ensembles and performers will include:
- Jiangsu Performing Group
- Chicago Chinese Qipao Association
- Dongfang Dance Group
- SunnyU Dance Group
- Chicago Huaxing Troupe
- YeQing Dance Troupe
- Yang Dance Academy
- Special guests will include:
- Tao Tong, tenor
- Gao Ding, bass-baritone
- Dan Liao, soprano
- Liu Yuening, yangqin
- Lalgudi Krishnan, Carnatic violin
- Zach Harmon, tabla
- Michael Boo, composer-in-residence
- Ding Cao, conductor
- Jeffrey Scott Doebler, conductor
- Sponsors for the event include:
- Dong Fang Performing Arts
- Confucius Institute of Valparaiso University
- Confucius Institute in Chicago
- Asian Cultural Center
- Chinese-American Association of Greater Chicago
- Windiana Concert Band
- Media sponsors include:
- The China Press
- The China Press Weekly
Selected music repertoire will include:
- 76 Trombones from The Music Man
- You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel
- Dance of the Golden Snake
- Raga Jasmine
- Fugue on Yankee Doodle
- Harmonious World
- September
- Flower Blossom
- Cloud Gate
- Les Toreadors from Carmen
- The Impression of Tibet
- Nessun Dorma from Turandot
- Hands Across the Sea
- Friendship Lasts Forever
The Jay Pritzker Pavilion is one of the premier outdoor amphitheaters in the Chicago area. This event is free admission to the public.
Plymouth High School will be transporting band members and band staff on two full-sized school buses to the event. If you, your company, business or organization would like to help sponsor this trip unbelievable opportunity for our students, please contact PHS Band Director Bryan Ames directly via email at [email protected].
