Elizabeth Stewart
Contributing Writer
North Central’s music department is hiring an additional band director in order to keep up with the growth of the band programs on campus.
The Concert Winds band, consisting of 104 students, has become too large to remain a single band. Starting next year, an additional director will be in charge of the second band, along with the Cardinal Athletic band and instrumental music education classes.
However, the road to becoming the continually growing program it is today has not been easy.
“(North Central) actually had eliminated the music department in 1972,” said Professor of Music and Director of Bands Dr. Lawrence Van Oyen, who was hired in 1993.
When Dr. Van Oyen arrived at the school the band was conducted by a part time director, and consisted of only 35 members, one third of the size it is now.
As the band continued to grow, rehearsal space became another obstacle to overcome. Over the years the band rehearsed in places such as Room 25 in Pfeiffer and the basement of a church which tended to flood in heavy rain.
“For one semester we practiced in what is now the bookstore. It was really dark and dirty and under renovation,” said alumna Kathryn Gruendler, who was in concert winds from 2007 to 2008.
Moving from space to space, and rehearsing in rooms that were not designed for a band may not have been ideal, but the band always had the support of the administration.
“They would find us a spot and rent it,” said Van Oyen.
Then in 2008 Wentz opened, giving the band and the rest of the music and theater department a building to call home.
“Wentz and the beautiful concert hall opened up, and we finally had a spot that could reflect how good our band was,” said Van Oyen.
Along with the performance hall, where the band spends its rehearsals trying to perfect its sound, Wentz also houses professor’s offices, a couple of classrooms, and a number of practice rooms for students to use.
The Cardinal Athletic Band, previously known as the Red Noise, has also gone through its own difficulties. In the past four years the band has gone through three different directors, and this was the first year the band marched an entire football season after the marching band component was disbanded in 2011.
However, no obstacle or setback has managed to dampen the spirits of those in the band. One of the most prominent aspects of being in Concert Winds is the feeling of being in a large family.
“We all support each other no matter what,” said graduate student Rebecca Sampson. “We cheer for each other’s triumphs, everything from getting engaged to getting a job to beating an illness, and we comfort each other when life gets hard—trying to find a job, suffering an illness, family emergency, academic emergency.”
Concert Winds is made up of music and non-music majors, but no matter to what degree students pursue music, they are part of a group of people who come together to do more than just play music.
“(The students) understand that it’s about more than just the music. They have fun and work hard,” said Van Oyen.
Six years ago the Concert Winds adopted Chilane, an underprivileged girl from Haiti, extending its family overseas. A collection jar is sent around during some rehearsals, allowing students to put their spare change to good use. The band also receives a few letters a year from Chilane, and students are able to collaborate and write back.
Along with supporting Chilane, the Concert Winds gives back by performing their annual “Chords for Kids” Concert. This concert allows parents to bring their children, diagnosed with autism, to enjoy a night of music.
“In concert winds I learned that being kind and considerate wasn’t just the right the to do, it was the only thing to do,” said Gruendler. “Everything in life should be done with diligence and integrity and Dr. Van Oyen taught that by example. He never forced us to do it. We saw how he interacted with the world and it inspired us to be better people ourselves.”
Being a part of Concert Winds also means learning how to take a break from the busy college life and taking time to take care of yourself.
“(Van Oyen) has constructed an environment in which our wellbeing is important,” said Sampson “It (is) touching (to have) a human being for a teacher, not someone who views us as expendable.”
Now a new family member is about to be added. The process for choosing the additional director began early this term. During the interviewing process the department narrowed it down to three finalists, who then audition for the position by conducing the band for a short time period. The also answered questions asked by the students.
The additional director has not yet been chosen.
