Page 15 - 2017-BMR-December

Reflections . . .

Joni Perez

Well, we are 2 1/2 days out of getting of the season, but man—did they beautiful and needed to be shared on
back from BOA Grand Nats and I’m perform. And man, were we proud. a big stage.
just starting to come out of the fog. It Our shows are never clearly spelled My connection to the song came
always takes a “minute” before I am out, and sometimes that can cause from growing up as a child in Albany,
able to truly absorb the experience, some interesting conversation and TX and singing How Great Thou Art
both from a seasonal standpoint and a speculation and this year was really no often in church at First Baptist. My
final performance standpoint. I would different. BUT THE MUSIC. Our kids grandfather was the music director,
be lying if I said this season has been and staff absolutely fell in love with and my grandmother, parents, aunts
one of the most enjoyable...but I will this show because of and uncles all sang
say this...it has been one of the most, the MUSIC. Marching Band is a in the church choir
if not THE most, rewarding I’ve ever Not only were funny thing. All band while I sat with my
experienced. “Adoration” from directors know this. other grandmother,
I won’t go into the details of all of Scythian Suite, “All Some of the best siblings and cousins
the hardships that our kids and staff This Shall Be Yours” seasons competitively and sang along
experienced throughout this season and “Temen Oblak” are not as deeply while reading out
because no one wants to hear our sob fantastic pieces of profound while some of the hymnal. I
stories. We are all fighting our own literature on the field of the most difficult remember following
battles. And that is something that that easily offered our and challenging seasons along the music
I’ve tried to keep my students aware kids the opportunity can present some of staff with my finger
of these past couple of months but to pour themselves the most beautiful and and singing the
this was definitely one of the most into them, but rewarding outcomes. words loudly (while
challenging fall seasons I’ve ever been our ballad....I will s i mu l t a ne o u sl y
a part of. never forget when we listened to the sucking on a piece of hard cinnamon
However, we fought the good fight inspiration for How Great Thou Art candy from my Nanny.) I remember
until the very last minute and had the during our first design meeting back hearing all of the older ladies in the
very fortunate pleasure of watching in January...It was a no brainer. Not back pews howling along as the church
our kids perform one last time in the even one hesitation to do it. organ and piano (that now sits in my
big show. Going into Indy, we weren’t I remember discussing the various home) provided the accompaniment
sure how many performances we levels of familiarity with the song that for our small town church family to
would ultimately get to have but we everyone on the staff and design team sing along to. I’m sure many of you
worked our butts off to try and earn had at the time, which ultimately have your own special connection
three of them. The sheer joy of seeing foreshadowed how our students and with How Great Thou Art.
our kids react when being announced audiences would receive the music As we began learning the music
as a Grand Nationals Finalist was over the season. For those who with the kids last spring you could
special. And I am thrilled to be able knew the song, they had a special tell that they bought in right away.
to say that I’ve never had so much fun connection with it, mostly through Whether they knew the music or not,
watching a group of students perform their connection with church and there was something about it that rang
than I did last Saturday night in God. For those who did not know the true to them. And I don’t think I’ll
Finals. We still had a lot of issues and song, their response to it was one of ever forget the first time we performed
could have used the over two weeks adoration and love. Because whether it at a football game and the crowd
of field time we lost over the course you knew it or not, it was simply leapt to their feet afterwards, cheering

Bandmasters Review • December 2017 13 Texas Bandmasters Association