Director of Bands - Joseph Christensen's Letter

Dear Band Alumns,

It is always gratifying to write this letter. I am fortunate to have been in a position for 25 years where I have been lucky enough to work, teach, and enjoy so many wonderful people. It is extremely gratifying to watch our graduates grow, become successful, and when desired, have families. The Alumni Band also has provided me with an opportunity to become friends with another very special group of individuals that graduated before my tenure began at ISU. It is a great job when you are actually paid to work with wonderful people and then allowed to make music with them.

We have exciting plans for the Cyclone Bands this year and I wanted to share some of the things we are going to be doing. Karel Husa, Pulitzer prize winning composer, will be on campus for a four day mini-residency. He will be coaching and conducting the ISU Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band that will be performing two of his works. Composer Charles Young has just completed a commission for the Big Twelve Band Directors Association. Mr. Young will be joining the Wind Ensemble for the premiere of this work, Tempered Steel, in February. Our jazz program has been flourishing under the wonderful leadership of Jim Bovinette. This year we will bring some of the finest jazz artists in the United States to campus for four separate residencies that are part of the Louise Moen Hamilton Endowed Chair in Music. Our 2 jazz ensembles and five jazz combos have become a true mark of pride for the ISU Band Division. Jazz I was accepted and performed for the prestigious Elmhurst Jazz Festival this past year. Their performance was marked by glowing praise from the panel of adjudicators. (Our two jazz ensembles of 36 members had 7 National Merit finalists or winners in the two ensembles).

The Cyclone Marching Band and pep bands continue to be outstanding ambassadors to ISU. This past year they performed 61 times to a combined audience of over 600,000 people. Just a few of the many outreach activities they will be doing include: performances at the Cedar Rapids Indoor Marching Band Classic, the Ankeny High School Marching Band Competition, and hosting ISU Band Day.

I am looking forward to seeing all of you who can return for another rewarding reunion. I hope all of you can come back to campus to see old friends, make new friends, and see the tremendous growth of our great university. Please make your plans to join us.

As Always,

Mr. "C"

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Updated: December 17, 2000 -- Comments? Visit our Webmaster

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