by Dustin Saffel
The South Dakota Bandmasters Association is an organization that promotes music education. The South Dakota Bandmasters website says, "The South Dakota Bandmasters Association is an organization dedicated to promoting music education throughout South Dakota. We strive to develop excellence in bands across the state through professional development, mentorship, performance opportunities, and advocacy." This year, eight bands performed at the 88th annual conference. This year, Augustana University Jazz Northlanders, Ipswich Beginning Band, Lincoln High School Jazz Collective, Rapid City Central Jazz Combo, Scotland High School Band, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Wind Ensemble, South Dakota State University Wind Symphony, and Yankton Middle School Band all played at the conference held at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center at SDSU in Brookings, South Dakota. The conference this year was held through the 8-10th of February.
The Yankton Middle School played six songs.
The performance started with Anthem Of An Era Grade 1.5-2)Written by Tyler S. Grant, who wrote it to "Capture the motivation of young people as they work to achieve their goals. Whether their focus is on academics, the arts, or athletics, their work deserves to be recognized and celebrated."
Then they played Faith Eternal (Grade 2), arranged by Carol Brittin Chambers, which was commissioned by the former students of band director Jose Davila in his loving memory. Jose was a dedicated band director for 15 years before his sudden passing in 2019. He influenced his students in so many ways through the relationships he built with each of them. His sense of humor in the band hall made rehearsing music so much fun and made them feel like a band family. However, one of the most impactful ways he influenced others was through his faith. He did not hold back when students needed loving correction, someone to talk to, or someone to encourage them to make the right choices. He was a church worship leader as well but took his job of leading students in the right direction through the bonds of music very seriously. After his passing, one resounding echo from his former students was that they knew he was in heaven because of how he led his life. He had a faith that was unshakable and everlasting…A Faith Eternal.
Incandescence (Grade 3.5-4), written by Adrian B. Sims, honors the African American inventor Lewis Howard Latimer, who is best known for his work on the lightbulb. Thomas Edison did invent the lightbulb, but without Latimer's contributions, a lightbulb would last for no more than a couple of hours. Lewis Latimer's invention, the carbon filament light bulb, allowed for a bulb to burn for substantially longer periods of time. In addition to being a seasoned inventor and draftsman, Latimer was also an avid painter, poet, and musician. This work is a musical depiction of light referring to both the light resulting from Latimer's invention as well as the brilliant scientific and artistic scholar he was. At times, the work radiates with joy and is at other times quiet and deep in creative thought, eager to see how an idea dazzling with potential might unfold later on. Incandescence tribute Lewis Latimer's significant contributions to the light bulb and his everlasting ingenuity.
Then they played Me (reAffirmation) (Grade 1.5-2) written by Randall Standridge, Who says, "In 2020 I wrote a piece called Affirmation, which was a celebration of the outsiders of the world, for all the kids who have ever been made to feel "less than." It is a song of celebration and defiance and is, to this day, one of my favorite things I have ever written. There was just one problem with it. It was a challenging piece. I always wanted to do an easier version to carry this message to younger kids who deal with the same issues, day after day, from peers, adults, parents, and siblings. I wanted to tell them that it is okay to love themselves. That it is not only okay. It is NECESSARY. It is with immense gratitude and pride that I present my new composition, ME (reAffirmation), the newest addition to the unbroken project. This work takes themes for Affirmation and, instead of a celebration, turns them into a lullaby of comfort, a gentle song that whispers back across the years to my younger self, "It is going to be okay," Late in the piece, a defiant heartbeat is heard that grows to the climax before resolving to a gentle message of hope. Bullying happens to our youth. Bullying happens to our adults. And it is NOT okay. So, to all the band geeks, the choir kids, the art kids, the children of color, the abused and forgotten, the misunderstood, and the people walking around with the weight of too many years of self-loathing chained to their legs, please try this for me. Say something positive about yourself every single day. Be your own best cheerleader. Learn to say something positive about those around you. Learn to love yourself. You are beautiful. You are perfect. You are worthy. Say it over and over again until you believe it from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet." -Randall Standridge
Bluebell (grade 3), written by Yukiko Nishimura, is the re-scored band music from the same piece for string orchestra. It is a type of flower which looks like a small bell and sprouts in early spring in English countries such as Ireland and Scotland. Bluebells have been used throughout history. Their sticky sap was used to bind books in the Elizabethan period. Due to their toxicity, there has been little use of bluebells in modern medicine. However, their bulbs have diuretic and styptic properties, and research on how these flowers could potentially help fight cancer is ongoing. The Bluebell symbolizes humility, constancy, gratitude, and everlasting love.
Then, they finished with Heart of Gold (Grade 2.5), written by Brian Balmages to honor Paul Salyers. Paul Salyer was a beloved bad director in the Riverside community of California. When he had a heart transplant, the entire community rallied behind him and went back to teaching as soon as he was allowed. Over a year later, he found out that his body was rejecting his new heart, yet he continued teaching through the difficult treatment process. He was a fun, loving teacher who always made people smile. He was dedicated to his students until the very end. In fact, his band live-streamed their concert to his hospital room while he was on life support. He passed away hours later. His colleague who commissioned this project insisted that it be fun, uplifting, lively, energetic, and certain to put a smile on everyone's face because that is what he did.
