BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — One of Germany’s leading youth symphonic wind orchestras will be joining Illinois Wesleyan University’s wind ensemble for a special performance during Homecoming and Family Weekend.
The concert will take place on Saturday, Oct. 11. from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Young Main Lounge in the Memorial Center. The evening will feature a collaboration of American and German composers, highlighting the importance of music and its universal language. This event is free and open to the public. The IWU and German students will also perform at 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at Glenwood High School in Chatham, Ill.
The Young Wind Philharmonic of Saxony, or Junge Bläserphilharmonie Sachsen, is supported by the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism. The German orchestra has toured across Europe and Asia, including performances in China and South Korea, and as a celebrated guest in prestigious venues such as Dresden’s Kulturpalast, the Leipzig Gewandhaus and the Stadthalle Chemnitz.
Wesleyan’s Wind Ensemble comprises 39 musicians and the Youth Wind Philharmonic of Saxony will have 45 musicians, for a total of 84 at Saturday’s concert. Director of Large Instrumental Ensembles at IWU Logan Campbell says bringing together exceptional young talents offers a unique opportunity to refine skills and artistry at the highest level.
“For more than 30 years,” Campbell said, “The Young Wind Philharmonic has been a springboard for countless professional musicians and music educators. Twice a year, the ensemble gathers for intensive rehearsal phases under the direction of its chief conductor, Thomas Scheibe. Each project results in thematically crafted and artistically ambitious programs that challenge musicians and captivate audiences, earning acclaim far beyond Saxony’s borders.”
Campbell also has a personal connection to the group. In 2016, he was selected to represent the United States in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals.
This opportunity gave Campbell and 74 other ambassadors the chance to visit Germany for a full year to study the German language, German/American political relations, and to study their specific professional area — like music, in Campbell’s case.
“I was placed in Leipzig, a beautiful and historical city in the state of Saxony where I performed with a few ensembles, including this group,” Campbell said. “Ever since, we have discussed an international tour exchange and with my position at IWU, this seemed to be an organic time to make the tour happen.”
Saturday’s repertoire will combine selections from American composers like Morton Gould and Percy Grainger paired with German/European composers Johann Sebastian Bach and Paul Hindemith.
“Music bridges so many people through its power and emotion,” Campbell said. “While languages come with rules, tenses, vocabulary and pronunciation, music can connect across those barriers.”
Even when he couldn’t understand every word during his experience with the group in Germany, Campbell said the music created between himself and his peers led to laughter, smiles, tears and friendship — an experience he hopes to share with concert attendees during Homecoming and Family Weekend.
“This collaboration means so much to me personally, as it continues to forge a dear friendship with this ensemble and more importantly the musicians that make it so special,” Campbell said. “For our program, it highlights our intention to think beyond our campus and utilize the beauty of music to build bridges with partners near and far.”
In preparing for the concert, Campbell reminded students that “there is power in representing our country, our community and ourselves in ways that show others what it means to be an American.”
“I trust it will be a special and impactful project that many will recall for years to come.”