The Baldwin Wallace University Symphonic Band joined ensembles from Berea-Midpark High School on Friday, February 27, for a collaborative concert held in Gamble Auditorium at the Kulas Musical Arts Building.
The event featured a shared concert program, with high school and collegiate ensembles performing in sequence rather than in a combined setting. Directed by Brendan Caldwell and Brett Benzin, the concert was structured to highlight both performance and educational connection, providing student musicians with the opportunity to observe and participate in a formal concert setting at the collegiate level.
All three Berea-Midpark bands opened the evening, each presenting its own repertoire. Their performances demonstrated a range of ensemble skills, including tone control, balance, and coordination, while also reflecting the progression of musicianship across the different groups. By performing first, the high school ensembles were able to present their work independently while contributing to the overall structure of the program.
“Experiences like this for high schoolers are important, not only for college recruitment, but because being able to work with senior musicians can inspire young instrumentalists to pursue musical careers and individual growth,” said Margaret Graffius, a freshman member of the Baldwin Wallace Symphonic Band.
Audience members filled Gamble Auditorium for the performance, which was open to the public. The audience response remained steady throughout the evening, with consistent engagement during both the high school and university portions of the program. The setting provided an opportunity for families, peers, and community members to observe the continuity between secondary and higher-level music education.
Following the high school performances, the Baldwin Wallace Symphonic Band concluded the concert with a program of more advanced repertoire. The ensemble demonstrated a higher level of technical precision and musical complexity, offering a point of comparison for younger musicians in attendance. Elements such as expanded instrumentation, dynamic contrast, and ensemble cohesion were more skillfully featured in the university performance.
The structure of the concert created a cohesive and well-paced program, with each ensemble contributing to the overall flow of the evening. It also highlighted the ongoing connection between Baldwin Wallace University and local school music programs, reflecting a strong commitment to outreach and continued support of developing musicians.
The joint concert wonderfully reflects Baldwin Wallace’s continued efforts to engage with regional schools and provide prospective students with exposure to collegiate performance environments, as well as insight into the expectations and opportunities available in university-level music programs.
