On Saturday, July 11, a number of ICA students, along with Mr. Parker and Mr. and Mrs. Ascher, travelled to Cincinnati, Ohio to hear the United States Marine Band in concert. July 11th marked the 211th anniversary of the Marine Band and was also the final day of the 14th annual WASBE (World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles) conference which was held this year at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. The group left Anderson and arrived a little early at their destination. “I asked the folks at the desk if there was anything that we could do while we waited, and was told that the Taipei Zhong Zheng Wind Ensemble would be playing soon in another section of the building,” Mr. Ascher explained. “I didn’t know if I wanted to give up my place in line to go hear a group I didn’t know anything about. But as the time got closer, I took my daughter Caitlin and went to check it out. This group was amazing!” Mr. Ascher brought home a DVD of the group and plans on showing it to the ICA instrumental groups this fall.
The Marine Band concert began at 5:00pm and was thoroughly enjoyed by all the students. Not only was the music tremendous, but the audience was full of composers, arrangers, and performers who had come from all over the world to take part in the conference. Trent Ascher sat next to the first trumpet player for the Los Angeles Symphony. Mr. Karel Husa, who composed “Music for Prague, 1968″, the final selection played by the Marine Band, was sitting in the row behind the ICA students. Mr. Husa was presented with the WASBE Lifetime Achievement Award during the concert. Mr. Thomas Knox, who arranged the “Armed Forces Medley” which the Marine Band played to close the concert was sitting directly behind Mr. Ascher.
”To expose our kids to concerts by the best musicians is always something I want to take advantage of,” said Mr. Ascher. “I want to express my appreciation to Mr. Rodney Winther at CCM and the Marine Band for such a fine concert experience!”
