Friends make better music: The Dartmouth College Wind Ensemble

The Dartmouth College Wind Ensemble is a group of 45 talented musicians from both the College and the greater Upper Valley Community. The Ensemble celebrates 19th-, 20th- and 21st-century music through a passionate display of artistic mastery and collaboration—bridging the divide between Dartmouth students and our neighbors.

Hanna Bliska '20 is one of the Wind Ensemble's alto saxophonists, and has been playing the instrument since she was in third grade. When her school required her to choose an instrument to learn, Hanna was inspired to pick up the sax by her older cousin, who also played. She continued to practice the sax through high school.

"I dedicated a lot of my time to it in high school—I played in a wind ensemble and a jazz band  and in the marching band. It was such a great thing to dedicate my time to and it made me feel like I belonged. It made me feel really happy," Hanna said.

Although Hanna was unsure if she wanted to join the ensemble during her freshman fall, she said she is grateful that she ended up auditioning, citing the decision as "the best thing I have done at Dartmouth." Hanna said that the ensemble has provided her with a strong support system, as well as a great group of friends.

Hanna praised the Wind Ensemble's tight-knit community, and its impact on her experience as a freshman. She said that during her first year in the group, the seniors were particularly dedicated to spending time with the other players, and making her feel at home.

"At the beginning of the year, the seniors made it clear that even though we practice and learn our parts for rehearsal individually, there's no group sound if we don't connect and know each other," she said. "They were really committed to making sure that we spent time together outside of rehearsal, a tradition that we've carried through the years that I've been here. I basically eat dinner with the group two times a week."

Devon Chen '22 is also a saxophonist for the Wind Ensemble. He began playing the sax when he was in sixth grade, inspired by his older brother who also played the instrument. Devon believes that he continued with the sax because he chose the instrument on his own, unlike the violin and piano, which his parents wanted him to play. Although he eventually quit those two instruments, he stayed with the sax.

"I definitely felt more responsibility and ownership toward the saxophone because it was the instrument that I picked, and not just something that my parents wanted me to play. So that's why I stuck with it more," Devon said.

However, unlike Hanna, Devon knew that he wanted to play in college and even did research on the ensemble before coming to Dartmouth. And in addition to being part of the ensemble, Devon is planning on double majoring in computer science and music. Although the two disciplines may seem like total opposites, he said he is able to juggle both subjects pretty seamlessly. "It's actually pretty easy to manage the two majors because even though they are really different, they overlap in certain ways. I feel like in both cases you have creative control and also the product of your work is very visible."

Devon also expressed his interest in combining CS and music in his professional life, post-college. He is exploring the possibility of working in a computer science field where music is applicable—such as at a tech start-up that designs composition algorithms or software.

However, Devon said his dedication to the Wind Ensemble isn't solely due to his passion for music. Similar to Hanna, Devon commended the strong community of the group, and the social opportunities that the ensemble provides.

"We pretty consistently get dinner before or after rehearsal, and we also do social events. I think that most of us are friends, and that makes it a really strong community. I think I would have a lot less fun if the social aspect wasn't there," Devon said. "I'm not just in it for the music, as much as I would like to say that I am."

Devon also mentioned group traditions such as going to Murphy's after every performance, or doing wake-ups for new members of the ensemble.

The Wind Ensemble also offers students the unique opportunity of meeting community members of the greater Upper Valley area. In addition to student musicians, the ensemble invites residents to participate and showcase their musical talent. Additionally, the group facilitates a mentorship program called the Dartmouth Youth Wind Ensemble, where area middle schoolers spend winter Saturday mornings playing alongside Wind Ensemble members, who volunteer their time. The program culiminates in a free public concert in Spaulding Auditorium by the multi-age ensemble, this year on Saturday, February 29, 1:30 pm. The program is run by Wind Ensemble Director Brian Messier. Participating in Youth Winds has even inspired Hanna to consider a career in teaching, post-college.

The Wind Ensemble's next performance is on February 16 and it's bound to be a memorable night. According to Devon and Hanna, Brian chooses an underlying theme for each concert, and their upcoming performance will explore the contrast of light and dark. Although people may not immediately associate musical instruments with color, Hanna believes that they are actually very complementary.

"Light and darkness can symbolically represent a lot. And I think that music can serve as a light for individuals in tough situations and for people and society in general. Instruments have such color to them, so I love the idea that we are playing with light and dark and thinking about the different ways that we can convey color with sound," Hanna explained.

And even if you aren't the biggest wind instrument fan, consider attending the performance—you don't need to be a regular classical music listener to appreciate the talent and creativity of your fellow classmates and community members. "I think that going to the Wind Ensemble can open students up to a new kind of music, that may not align with their regular music taste. I am always blown away by the talent of each of the members of the Wind Ensemble," Hanna noted. Said Devon, "The wind ensemble is just fun. The music doesn't take itself too seriously and the purpose of the music is to enjoy it."

So buy a ticket and check them out. You'll get to hear a top-notch musical ensemble play a host of contemporary and classical pieces. And the best part is knowing how much fun they're having while doing it.