SUNY Fredonia musicians work with composer Augusta Read Thomas, Dr. Paula Holcomb, and bassoonist Nadina Mackie Jackson, in Harry A. King Concert Hall.
The Fredonia Wind Ensemble received recognition earlier this year and is again in the spotlight for international kudos.
A recording featuring the ensemble received the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) June album of the month recognition in 2024. Composer Augusta Read Thomas,’ “Terpsichore’s Box of Dreams” (Nimbus Alliance NI 6445) is now one of three finalists in the Orchestral category of the BBC Music Magazine Awards.
Dr. Paula Holcomb encourages students and their families, alumni, and members of the campus and community, to post their vote for the very special award. Voting runs from Jan. 23 to Feb. 28 online.
The album features the Grossman Ensemble, conducted by Stefan Asbury and Timothy Weiss, and the SUNY Fredonia Wind ensemble’s performance of the world premiere of “Carnival,” a piece commissioned by the SUNY Fredonia School of Music and performed by the Fredonia Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Holcomb, with bassoonist Nadina Mackie Jackson.
In 2015, Holcomb and the Fredonia School of Music commissioned the work for bassoon and wind ensemble by Ms. Read Thomas. The commission and recording project were funded in part by The Sorel Organization, founded by Claudette Sorel, SUNY Distinguished Professor and former chair of the SUNY Fredonia piano area.
Read Thomas and Mackie Jackson were on the SUNY Fredonia campus for several days of rehearsals, recording sessions, and student workshops during the 2022-2023 academic year. The recording was done by SUNY Fredonia Sound Recording Technology students and faculty member and GRAMMY nominee, Dr. Bernd Gottinger, and the album was picked up by the Nimbus label late in 2023.
Dr. Holcomb noted, “It is with the utmost honor and excitement to announce that as a result of a panel of international judges, the album has been nominated as one of three finalists in the Orchestral category of this year’s BBC Music Magazine Awards! This incredible honor is a result of the Sorel Foundation support, SUNY Fredonia Administration, our phenomenal School of Music faculty, compositional talents of Augusta Read Thomas, artistry of Nadine Mackie Jackson, Dr. Bernd Gottinger and the fantastic Sound Recording Technology (SRT) department, and most of all, the SUNY Fredonia incredibly talented Wind Ensemble musicians!”
The winners of each of the nine categories in the awards will be announced on April 23 at the awards ceremony at Kings Place in London.
