O. Miller '21 Plays in Virtual Concert Band
Last spring, music teacher Brandon Hagan joined a group called the Virtual Concert Band (VCB) that brings together musicians from all around the world to play music virtually. In the group’s latest project, O. Miller ’21 also performed, playing the French horn.
“After Miller’s great work for our virtual Vespers, where she had a solo, I figured she would be up for the challenge and suggested she sign up,” Hagan said.
The piece that Miller participated in was “Afterlife” by Rossano Galante. It was played by 322 musicians. Group founder Laura Campbell is a teacher from Melbourne, Australia.
“After Mr. Hagan emailed me over winter break telling me about the opportunity, I looked around the website and listened to the song “Afterlife,” Miller said. “It is a beautiful, lyrical piece of music which is something I've always been drawn to in music, and it had some wonderful horn parts to it. I'd been looking for ways to keep playing and improve, so Virtual Concert Band was a great way to do that.”
Without any rehearsals, it was up to Miller to learn the piece and self-record.
“After signing up, I got a document that had music and a number of recording instructions that included the click track for us to play to and some other specifics such as tuning frequency,” she explained. “I used my computer and headphones for the click track, and I recorded the video on my phone.
“I really enjoyed getting to play music that was a level much more challenging than what I normally encounter,” Miller continued. “It really pushed my range and my ability to jump intervals cleanly. I struggled to get a grip on the music at first, so I felt pretty accomplished when I finally sent in my video because I was able to reach the notes previously out of my range and play everything cleanly.
“In college I would love to join the marching band and learn a lot of fun music to cheer on the athletic teams. I would have to play mellophone, which is what horn players march with because horns are not great marching instruments. I might also join the wind symphony for some harder and more serious horn playing,” she concluded.
“She did great and I am very proud,” said Hagan. “She has played in band with me since she came to Newton Country Day in sixth grade and has been a dedicated leader in the Instrumental Ensemble this year while we have adapted to a new existence as a group.”
The performance that Miller was a part of can be viewed here.
“After Miller’s great work for our virtual Vespers, where she had a solo, I figured she would be up for the challenge and suggested she sign up,” Hagan said.
The piece that Miller participated in was “Afterlife” by Rossano Galante. It was played by 322 musicians. Group founder Laura Campbell is a teacher from Melbourne, Australia.
“After Mr. Hagan emailed me over winter break telling me about the opportunity, I looked around the website and listened to the song “Afterlife,” Miller said. “It is a beautiful, lyrical piece of music which is something I've always been drawn to in music, and it had some wonderful horn parts to it. I'd been looking for ways to keep playing and improve, so Virtual Concert Band was a great way to do that.”
Without any rehearsals, it was up to Miller to learn the piece and self-record.
“After signing up, I got a document that had music and a number of recording instructions that included the click track for us to play to and some other specifics such as tuning frequency,” she explained. “I used my computer and headphones for the click track, and I recorded the video on my phone.
“I really enjoyed getting to play music that was a level much more challenging than what I normally encounter,” Miller continued. “It really pushed my range and my ability to jump intervals cleanly. I struggled to get a grip on the music at first, so I felt pretty accomplished when I finally sent in my video because I was able to reach the notes previously out of my range and play everything cleanly.
“In college I would love to join the marching band and learn a lot of fun music to cheer on the athletic teams. I would have to play mellophone, which is what horn players march with because horns are not great marching instruments. I might also join the wind symphony for some harder and more serious horn playing,” she concluded.
“She did great and I am very proud,” said Hagan. “She has played in band with me since she came to Newton Country Day in sixth grade and has been a dedicated leader in the Instrumental Ensemble this year while we have adapted to a new existence as a group.”
The performance that Miller was a part of can be viewed here.