Performing is definitely something I love to do whenever I get the chance (except for singing, I don't do that). This upcoming weekend I'm very fortunate, for I have the opportunity to perform twice with two different ensembles in the same day. As the school year winds down, it's time for bands to perform their last concerts of the season. This Sunday evening Drake University's concert band will be putting on a concert on the Drake campus. This year I had the wonderful opportunity to be the principal horn in this ensemble, and it has been a challenge, especially since I'm not a huge fan of playing solos.

Joe Smith
I feel I have grown a lot as a horn player throughout the season, and I look forward to next season when I will hopefully be playing with this ensemble again. Sunday will be a nice climax to the season. We will be performing seven pieces, and of these probably my favorite piece would have to be "Watchman, Tell Us of the Night" by Mark Camphouse. Shortly after the concert band performance, my friend and corps alum
David Krcil (Marion Glory Cadets 2002-2003) will have his senior recital on trumpet. For his final piece he has taken his arranging skills and put together his own arrangement of the famous piece "When a Man Loves a Woman" (we all know this from Blue Devils, 1992). He considers this to be his tribute to drum corps. For his tribute he has brought together about 18 brass players and two percussionists to play this piece. I'm extremely excited about this because it will give me a chance to play mellophone with several people that march with other corps. The performance will be in Sheslow Auditorium, and from what I hear they're afraid that it will be almost too loud. This weekend should be a great weekend to perform for me. Now it's time to shine my horns in preparation so that they look good.