Three conductors combined their talents to deliver a heartfelt homecoming concert at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham.
The performance on October 5 by the Osher Wind Ensemble was the centerpiece of a weekend filled with activities meant to celebrate the past and present of the campus community. Much of the credit for crafting the homecoming soundtrack goes to Dr. William Kinne, an assistant professor and director of bands at the Osher School of Music.
Kinne and his students treated the steps leading up to Corthell Hall like a tiered stage. The audience made their seats in the grass that stretched out in front of the building. The festival atmosphere demanded a matching musical treatment.
“All of this music is very lyrical, folk song and melodically driven, so it’s really a concert for the whole community,” Kinne said.
The concert began with a blast of horns to the tune of “El Relicario,” a pasodoble composed by Jose Padilla. The exuberant and nostalgic tone set by the opening number echoed through each subsequent piece.
The wind ensemble stuck to its regular lineup with Kinne conducting for the first half of the concert. They returned from intermission with several alumni added to their ranks, including Martin Naas on trumpet.
Naas graduated in 1969 with a degree in Music Education. He retired 17 years ago after 38 years of teaching music to high school students. He stays active by playing with the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra and the Casco Bay Band, so his skills were sharp for the homecoming concert.
“Back when I was here, it was pretty much all Music Education at that time,” Naas said. “They really felt that the best way to become a good teacher was to be a good performer on your instrument to begin with, and then a lot of other things would take care of themselves.”
Kinne helped ease the alumni musicians into the group by conducting the first piece after intermission. For the next number, he handed off his baton to University President Jacqueline Edmondson. She conducted “Gardes du Corps March,” composed by native Mainer Robert Browne Hall.
A second guest conductor closed out the program. Justin Conley-Reyes traveled a long road to reach that moment. He first enrolled at USM in 2013 but put his education on hold when money got tight. After four years in the Marine Corps, he returned to USM to resume his studies in Music Education. He’s grateful to all the mentors he met along the way.
“A lot of my conducting and my leadership style has been an amalgamation of everyone put together,” Conley-Reyes said. “And that’s how you get Justin.”
Conley-Reyes will celebrate his 30th birthday this year. He’s been happy to share the benefits of his experiences with younger students who see him as big brother. He also has the respect of his teachers. Kinne took his input into consideration in choosing the John Philip Sousa classic “Stars and Stripes Forever” as the closing number.
Sousa built a showcase for the flute section midway into the march. Chase Whelan was one of the two performers who took up the challenge. He’s a senior majoring in Music Performance. By next homecoming, Whelan will be an alumnus like so many of the people who came out to hear him.
“I distinctly remember my first one of these four years ago,” Whelan said. “It was a big deal for me because it was my first concert at university.”
The audience responded to the last big notes of “Stars and Stripes Forever” with waves of applause. A chance of rain in the forecast raised concerns about attendance, but the grey clouds cleared by midmorning. The sunny skies ushered in a crowd of about 150 people. Kinne was grateful for the support, especially from alumni.
“Many of our alumni are teaching in the public schools, and performing, whether they be in military bands or professional organizations throughout the country and the world,” Kinne said. “We’re very proud of our alumni, and they’re some of our strongest ambassadors and spokespeople.”