Each year at Jesuit, novice and experienced musicians arrive for their first time at the offices of Jesuit Band Directors,
Donovan Putnam and Zane Crownover, unaware of the challenges they will overcome throughout their careers with the Jesuit Ursuline Ranger Band.
Not only do the students face this challenge, but also the directors. Each day, the Jesuit musicians and directors attempt to conquer the hardships of practicing and performing music, playable by students of all levels of ability.
Last Thursday night on May 3rd, the Jesuit Ursuline Ranger Band performed the surprisingly diverse spring concert selection, once again leaving the audience in awe. After the 7:30 p. m. concert on May 3rd, Mr. Donovan Putnam, Director of the Jesuit Ursuline Ranger Band took the time to answer a few questions:
Question: “Mr. Putnam, upon viewing the concert selection on the brochure, I noticed the diversity of the pieces, ranging from a Russian piece, to contemporary rock. What encouraged you to select such diverse pieces?
Answer: What encouraged my selection of such a wide variety music was the fact that it comes from all over the globe, a language understood by everyone.
Question: Of all of the pieces in the concert, which one would you consider the piece that interested you the most and why?
Answer: This is like asking me to pick a favorite child! But…if you insist, I would have to say it would be the third piece, “Salvation is Created,” by Pavel Tschesnokoff. Upon performing this piece I knew for certain that it would captivate the audience, and it did that exactly.
Question: What was going through your mind, as the symbolic rose ceremony was being conducted for the seniors?
Answer: Well, to be honest, I felt a strong feeling of pride for the seniors and the lasting effect that they had on the band. I flashed back to the days when they used to be freshmen, and I have seen so much growth from that point. They make me very proud.
Question: What goals do you have set for the 2012-2013 Season?
Answer: My primary goal for the 2012-2013 year is to meet the success achieved last year and hopefully achieve greater
heights. Last year’s band perhaps had the most success I have ever seen in a band. Another one of my goals, to make the finals at the Little Elm Marching Competition also seems highly possible. Last but not least, I aspire to have our band achieve two final goals, sending more students to TPSMEA and having the band travel to perform at the Disney Performing Arts Studio.
Donovan Putnam, Director of Bands, envisions yet another year of great success and achievements for the 2012-2013 Jesuit Ursuline Ranger Band, led by its class of rising seniors.
