On April 20 and April 21 at 8 p.m., Hillsdale College’s Big Band will perform featuring guest artist Vince DiMartino in Markel Auditorium.
“I find that it is one of the best music styles to play for trumpet, I like the freedom of it,” Senior trumpet player Paul Schumacher said.
The Big Band allows for a measure of improvisation, giv- ing the musicians much more freedom within the flow of the music.
“There is something very exhilarating and very nerve wreck- ing about it, for sure. That adds fun to it,” senior vocalist Erin O’Luanaigh said. “There is actually this amazing phenomenon, when you are actually doing good scatting, where all you can hear is the music and you are literally blind because you have no other sensation coming in. You have shut down every receptor in your body except hearing the music and then singing what you hear.”
Along with O’Luanaigh, several other seniors will perform for their final time as a part of the Big Band.
“Because this is my last one, I am going to do my very best to make sure that it is the best concert possible,” senior saxophone player Paul Myers said, “so I can always carry that great memory with me.”
Although the time commitment has forced several students to make sacrifices, their fondness of the music and overall devotion to the band would not alter their decision to participate in Big Band.
“I just sold my soul to it [Music Department], that’s all,” senior drummer Alex Cothran said. “It is definitely a love hate relationship, but the love definitely outweighs the hate.”
Aside from the students’ busy musical lives, this particular concert will showcase their tal- ents to the Hillsdale community as Vince DiMartino will accompany the Big Band. DiMartino not only teaches trumpet, brass and jazz ensemble, and music history, but has played with some of the finest musicians. In 2008-2009, DiMartino received the Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award for the state of Kentucky.
“He is the greatest musician ever to play in Markel Auditorium. This is no exaggeration,” Chris McCourry, director and trumpet player said.
McCourry invited several different artist to perform alongside the students, showcasing the talents of both the students and the visiting artists. Students and faculty alike are excited to perform with DiMartino.
“By having a professional come in, it kind of ups the band’s level as well because we have to bring ourselves up to make sure that we meet his standard,” Myers said, “and that just makes the concert that much better.”
“The fact that he is a trumpet player is really awesome,” Schumacher said. “Seeing him in person and having him play with us will be great.”
The Big Band and DiMartino will perform a potpourri of jazz ranging from swing to the vivacious beats of latin rhythm. The musicians wish to promote the spirited music through their performance.
“I hope people enjoy the concert,” Cothran said. “I hope we do the songs justice and that people will hear them as they are supposed to be performed.”
lreyes@hillsdale.edu
