Composition Will Have Its U.S. Premiere During Wind Ensemble Concert

It’s not often that you perform a piece of music while the composer is sitting on stage with you, but that’s exactly what will take place during the Wind Ensemble concert on December 3 at 7 p.m. when the musicians play El Caroumá by Adrian Calle, marking the U.S. premiere of the composition.

A Performing Arts: Music major with a Vocal concentration, Adrian wrote the piece in 2021 while living in his home country of Colombia. It was performed by a municipal band there, but it has not been performed in the United States. “It is a symphonic poem that tells the legend of a mighty hill located in a small town, Supia, in the northwest of Caldas Colombia,” the composer explained. “It begins by describing the magic and grandeur of its early inhabitants, the Sopía tribe. The music then turns to traditional Colombian rhythms, with hand-carved flutes, drums, dances, and rituals celebrating the life of the tribe—until the ambush led by a Spanish captain named Tacón. Finally, the legend tells of the great avalanche of the hill Cauromá, which destroyed lives and part of the ancient town.”

After joining the Wind Ensemble as an oboist, Adrian asked Dr. Allyson Keyser, Professor in the School of Music and Director of the Wind Ensemble, if she would consider including it in the program for the next concert. She listened to it and didn’t hesitate to share it with the ensemble.

Dr. Keyser shared, “One of my passions as a musician and educator is programming works by underrepresented composers, but to program one written by one of our student members in the group was truly special. Collaborating on this piece for its U.S. premiere with the composer at every rehearsal is a rare and meaningful experience that our members will remember for life. This piece quickly became a favorite among our ensemble members, which includes both students and local professionals, many of whom are current music educators in the Capital Region. We cannot wait to share it with our audience.”

The Wind Ensemble performs on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m., the Taylor Auditorium. The concert is free.