Newswise — The Alabama Wind Ensemble and The University Singers will offer the newly commissioned composition "Enterprise" to the people of the southeast Alabama town on the first anniversary of the tornado that destroyed Enterprise High School and killed eight students.
Ira Hearshen, a Los Angeles composer and arranger in the film industry, wrote "Enterprise." University of Alabama students and faculty involved in the ensembles will travel to Enterprise on Friday, Feb. 29 to perform two concerts. The first, at 5:30 p.m., is for the Enterprise students and families of the students who died. The second performance, at 7:30 p.m., is for the general public. The performance will take place at Hillcrest Baptist Church, which is across the parking lot from where Enterprise High School once stood. Hearshen will attend the performance in Enterprise.
The University of Alabama commissioned a composition in memory of the eight students who were killed March 1, 2007, at Enterprise High School. The piece was written for the combined forces of the Wind Ensemble (essentially a concert band) and The University of Alabama Singers (the top vocal ensemble in the School of Music, part of UA's College of Arts and Sciences). The piece was written for both winds and voices because the students lost were in both band and chorus. The genesis of the piece came from Dr. Ken Ozzello, UA director of bands.
"The piece touches on a full range of emotions," Ozzello said. "There are sections of the piece that are very agitated, representing the destructive forces of the storm. But there are also very tranquil moments, reflecting the hope of rebuilding in the memory of those who were lost."
The project was facilitated by UA's Creative Campus Program, which is led by Dr. Hank Lazer and Dr. Scott Bridges. The project was funded through the office of Dr. Judy Bonner, UA provost and executive vice president.
Hearshen visited Alabama in the summer of 2007 to meet with the principals involved in the project. Among that group were teachers and students from Enterprise. Through discussions with these people he was able to collect the "seed material" for developing the piece. Hearshen settled on "Enterprise" for the title of the piece.
"Much of the piece was created using material offered by those who experienced the storm," Ozzello said. "The text for the piece was derived from a poem used in the 2007 Enterprise High School Yearbook. A pop tune that meant so much to the students titled 'Carry On' is quoted near the end of the work. The timeless hymn 'Amazing Grace,' which seems to touch people in situations such as these, is visited throughout the piece."
One of the most important contacts throughout the project was Charlie Ford, the band director at Enterprise High School. These performances are coordinated through the mayor's office of the city of Enterprise.
"The people of Enterprise have opened their arms to this project, and we hope that the piece expresses through art, that which cannot be written or spoken," Ozzello said.
The University of Alabama, a student-centered research university, is in the midst of planned, steady enrollment growth with a goal of reaching 28,000 students by 2010. This growth, which is positively impacting the campus and the state's economy, is in keeping with UA's vision to be the university of choice for the best and brightest students. UA, the state's flagship university, is an academic community united in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.
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