2025 Carnegie Hall: The WTAMU Symphonic Band in NYC

Dear Alumni & Friends,

Author Marilyn J. Appelberg has written, “New York is a city of superlatives, a place where the best, the brightest, the biggest is the norm.” As the line from the iconic song made famous by Frank Sinatra states, if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.

Last week, my wife Jenny and I were among the friends, alumni, and audience members who witnessed the WTAMU Symphonic Band’s return to the stage at Carnegie Hall. In almost two decades of visiting (no exaggeration here) my favorite city on the planet, we had never attended a program in one of the world’s most hallowed concert venues. The fact that we were getting to see our college band perform there, an organization in which our involvement has profoundly influenced our personal and professional lives, brought an even higher level of meaning to this new experience.

As a proud (and admittedly biased) alum, I have to say that I have never heard the WTAMU Symphonic Band better than they sounded throughout this concert. The high level of collective musicianship evident in the ensemble combined with the warmth and resonance of the hall created a truly outstanding and memorable performance from the opening passages of Maslanka’s First Light through the final notes of the premiere of BJ Brooks’ work, Oh Lord, What a Heavenly Light.

A stunningly beautiful rendition of Lux Aurumque, Eric Whitacre’s choral work arranged by the composer for band, brought the house down. The piece is deceptively difficult, and the balance, intonation, control, and tone quality of the band were only exceeded by its musicality and nuance.

It was easy to understand why WTAMU Assistant Professor of Percussion Dr. Ryan Boehme and principal percussionist Brandon Garcia were featured in the band’s second selection, Run to the Light, and new flute instructor Jessica Schurry gave a virtuosic performance of Bossa Merengova from Mike Mower’s work for solo flute and band, Sonata Latino.

The concert was enthusiastically received by the audience as, under the guidance of conductors Don Lefevre and Russ Teweleit, the WTAMU Symphonic Band showed that, after over 35 years away from New York City, they could still very much “make it there.”

A reception for performers and alumni at Times Square’s Hard Rock Cafe followed the program. This was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with old friends while celebrating the band’s incredible concert and all that went into it.

While all of us are only part of the WT band for a few years, the shared experiences and relationships forged create a lasting bond that only grows stronger over time. How fortunate we are to be connected to such an enduring legacy and how proud we should be to see the current generation of Buffs continue to expand upon it - a legacy in which the best, the brightest, the biggest is the norm.

On, on Buffaloes!

Sincerely,

Jim Shaw

WT Band Alumni President