Sibelius Academy Wind Ensemble to Perform at Hinsdale South

The University of the Arts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy Wind Ensemble will perform for students at Hinsdale South High School on Dec. 17 at the Hinsdale South auditorium.

The Sibelius Academy is one of the top music universities in Europe, according to a Hinsdale Township High School District 86 news release. The Wind Ensemble traditionally performs music by international composers and former students of The University of the Arts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy.

“Being able to host the Wind Ensemble at our own facility is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Alex White, associate director of bands for Hinsdale South, in the news release. “Bringing in an internationally renowned ensemble to play on your stage in your hometown means a making a special connection not many students have an opportunity to make.”

This performance is in preparation for the Dec. 19 Midwest Clinic for Music Educators in Chicago, according to a Hinsdale Township High School District 86 news release.

The Midwest Clinic hosts groups from around the world in the biggest national conference for music educators, according to the news release.

For more information about the significance of this performance for students, please find the Q&A with Alex White below, courtesy of of a Hinsdale Township High School District 86 news release.

Q. When we think of teenager’s taste in music, we don’t typically think of classical. How does exposure to a different type of music affect students?

AW: Listening to “other” types of music opens up a student’s ears to the possibilities of music. There are so many combinations of sound that an ensemble can create, especially one with instruments since there are so many different timbres, or types of sound.

Q. How does classical music differ from other types of music?

AW: Classical music is rich in history, meaning, and especially emotion. When we listen to it, our hearts and minds open to a whole new realm of possibilities and ideas. I relate the concept to watching cartoons your whole life and one day getting the opportunity to see Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. Seeing and hearing an ensemble perform repertoire at such a high level of expertise is something our students will never forget and will help them become more culturally aware.

Q. How does an event like this inspire your students?

AW: Inspiration comes from a combination of innovation, success, goal setting, performance, and achievement. When students see another ensemble performing high-level music literature and working well as a group, something sparks inside them saying, “I want to do that.” When children see firefighters save lives, they want to grow up to be firefighters. When children see their favorite football team play or ballerinas dance, they want to grow up to be just like them. Excellence inspires youth and we want our students to see an international level of excellence. Since our school model is “Own It,” and on our website the headline reads, “A Partnership in Learning,” we want our students to take charge of their learning after witnessing what they as musicians are capable of as a result of a cooperative effort with an ensemble from another country.