MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD: JOSH TRENTADUE, "SYMPHONY NO. 1"

Josh Trentadue · I. Prologue v1 DEMO [wind ensemble]

Last year, a group of artists joined forces to begin work on a brand-new, multimedia, interdisciplinary piece. MCI composer Josh Trentadue's ambitious first symphony narrates a musical battle between two disparate mediums, post-bop jazz and contemporary classical music. Within the symphony's narrative framework, six artists comprising this post-bop jazz combo have each brought to the project's conceptual ideas an issue relevant to our ongoing political and global climate they will be speaking out on through their own musical artistry, making their voices heard.

The symphony additionally explores how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these issues to an exponential level. Meanwhile, a separate soloist (fulfilled by a seventh guest artist) will undergo a spiritual journey in their quest to unite these two mediums on common ground, stop the chaos, and continue to fight for systemic change together.

The wind ensemble version of this symphony is commissioned by MCI member Jeff Herwig, the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Three Rivers Wind Symphony. MCI members Jordan VanHemert and Kevin Day join the symphony's jazz combo on tenor saxophone and piano. Additional personnel includes Emily Dierickx, Lillie Christie, Amanda Ruzza, and Kevin Keith in the jazz combo, and Amy Rosendall serving a dual role as the symphony's solo flutist and sound healer.

The wind ensemble version is currently scheduled to be premiered on December 9, 2021. An orchestral version of this symphony is additionally in the works with the project's guest artists.

VanHemert, Day, Herwig, and Trentadue have each written the following about their involvement with this ambitious, multi-year endeavor:

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