The sound of brass, woodwinds, and marimbas filled the Rosza last Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m. as the Superior Wind Symphony band performed their last concert of the year, “Night at the Movies.” The band performed various soundtracks from films such as The Wizard of Oz, Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, Batman, and more. Joel Neves, conductor and director of Orchestral Activities at Tech, said his favorite song was “E.T. the Extraterrestrial. Just magical. It transports you to a different realm.” The SWS Percussion Duo also performed “Insomnia,” which received a standing ovation and was the first time two five-octave marimbas graced the Rozsa stage.
When Joel Neves was asked what brought him to conducting, Neves stated, “It is super fun conducting awesome music with really good musicians. There’s nothing more thrilling than working on refining the music in rehearsals then performing it in front of an audience.” He went on to explain what makes a good conductor, claiming “You have to be an excellent musician, people person, communicator, mentor, coach, therapist, and have a sense of humor.” Neves absolutely has a sense of humor, which he showed by making a few jokes and bringing out a Voldemort wand during the Harry Potter Symphonic Suite. His talks with the audience in between songs made the concert feel engaging and inclusive.
Neves also spoke on how he was proud of his students, especially because they play “sublime music at a high level with 100% non-music majors.” It is certainly impressive, especially considering the hours of dedication needed to perfect these songs. Neves highlighted a particular student, Michael Tarske, as it was Tarske’s last performance before graduation. “Michael is one of the best student musicians I’ve worked with at Tech. It’s been fun to see his passion for and dedication to music.” Tarske participated in many ensembles and will be missed.
As for what comes next, there will be a performance of “The Nutcracker” by Talmi Entertainment and the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra on Dec. 5. For more information, visit the Rozsa’s website at mtu.edu/rozsa
