July 24, 2008 01:08 am
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Encouraged by his music teachers at Meadville Area Senior High School, Shannon Baird began composing music and even made compositions his senior project three years ago. Baird will showcase his talents tonight when the Concert Band of Northwest Pennsylvania performs at 7 in Diamond Park.
During the “Silver Anniversary Concert,” Baird will direct the band in its presentation of his “Spirits of Northwestern Pennsylvania,” which he describes as a “fanfare dedicated to the people of northwestern Pennsylvania from Erie to Meadville to Oil City to Warren.”
Baird said the band’s director, John Fleming, wrote in his newsletter that he was “looking to hire people (to write a composition) for his 25th anniversary,” referring to the band’s silver anniversary.
“I said, ‘John, don’t hire anybody,’ ” said Baird, adding he told Fleming to let him compose something. “ ‘If you don’t like it, then you can hire somebody.’ ”
Fleming agreed, and Baird sat down and began his composition. After writing on the computer, he then went to the keyboard to write the music.
“It’s pure music for the concert band,” he said.
Fleming, founder and director of the band, is a retired member of the library faculty at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. He has a degree in music education from Juniata College. He also founded and co-directs the Band Camp for Adult Musicians now held at Allegheny College.
Fleming liked Baird’s composition
and it will be performed for the public tonight.
Two other special compositions to be presented tonight are “Keystone Overture” by Matthew Reese and “Simple Variations” by Dr. LeRoy Williams. Thomas Whalen will present a trumpet solo.
The Concert Band of Northwest Pennsylvania has performed more than 300 times over the years. Visitors are asked to take their own lawn chairs to tonight’s free concert.
Started in 1982, the band has performed in northwestern Pennsylvania, southwestern New York and northeastern Ohio, playing in auditoriums, parks, nursing homes and elsewhere. Every concert is free, but donations are accepted to defray costs of the music.
All members, including the conductor, volunteer their time to play with the band. Instrumentalists range from teenagers to senior citizens and include professional players.
Baird joined the band as a 17-year-old three years ago. The 2007 graduate of MASH has written hundreds of songs. His favorite is “Inner Peace,” he said, noting it makes him feel “so peaceful and it’s so magical.”
While he has a love and talent for music, it won’t be his career. He will be a freshman this fall at William Penn University — studying environmental science. “I just don’t feel it was my niche,” he said of a musical career.
Instead, he intends to continue enjoy making music as a pastime.
Jane Smith can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at jsmith@meadvilletribune.com.
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