Dr. Matthew Mailman, Professor of Conducting at Wanda L. Bass School of Music: “Celebrates 30th OCU Season
The Oklahoma City University Wind Ensemble recently completed an exhilarating tour across northwest Arkansas, capped off by a stunning performance at the Oklahoma Music Educators Association (OkMEA) convention in Tulsa. In just four days, the ensemble played seven concerts, visited five high schools and connected with prospective OCU students while facing a demanding schedule. Dr. Mailman, along with music students Seth Seneca, Ryan Batt and Emma Gaona, share their reflections on the tour, the performances and the unique experiences along the way.
A Week of Memorable Moments
The week-long tour was nothing short of a whirlwind, and the final performance at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center (TPAC) was the clear highlight. For Dr. Mailman, the entire week was filled with excitement and growth. “It really was quite the week,” he said, reflecting on the tour. “All of our concerts were superior, but Friday night was something really special. Having played that music all week in different venues really set us up for success, and the Wind Ensemble hit it out of the park.” By the time the ensemble performed at OkMEA, the students had grown increasingly confident in their abilities, delivering an emotionally resonant performance. “There was no stress or tension, and the students really milked every nuance out of a difficult program.” Dr. Mailman noted. Their performance at OkMEA was especially significant as they were the final honor group to take the stage, a level of prestige that the ensemble truly earned.
Karl Huber* (Spring, TX), Ashley Peaster (Lumberton, TX), Aaron MacDonald (Henry, TN), Sean Gallagher (St. Louis, MO), Seth Seneca (The Woodlands, TX)
Choosing the Schools and Connecting with the Community
Dr. Mailman and the team selected the tour locations to showcase OCU’s talent and inspire high school band students to consider the university as their college of choice. Dr. Mailman shared, “We had unbelievable support from our Performance Manager Francisco Venegas, our tuba/euphonium professor Dr. Genevieve Clarkson, our percussion professor Dr. Tommy Dobbs, and our Student Services Coordinator Thalia Hernandez, all of whom went on the tour with us.” To select the schools to visit, Dr. Mailman reached out to a well-connected friend familiar with the area’s band programs. “He sent me a list of ten schools to consider with the top five schools highlighted as the very best in Arkansas, and those are the 5 schools at which we played,” Dr. Mailman explained. One of the highlights of the trip was reconnecting with Daniel Hodge, the Director of Bands at Siloam Springs High School, who is an OCU alumnus (MM conducting, 2002). “It was so great to reconnect with him,” Dr. Mailman said, reflecting on the meaningful connection with a fellow OCU graduate.
A Demanding Schedule
The tight schedule of performances, travel and logistics left little time for workshops, but the focus was always on delivering the best possible performances. “We played at several different venues, so our students got very good at adapting quickly to different halls and different acoustics. By the time we got to the Tulsa PAC, our students were ready for anything,” Dr. Mailman said proudly. The students also showed exceptional professionalism on the road, consistently being punctual and respectful of one another, which made the experience even more enjoyable.
The Future of OCU Wind Ensemble Tours
The success of this tour was meaningful given that it was the first time in over ten years that an OCU ensemble had gone on tour. “Hopefully, our other ensembles will be able to use our Wind Ensemble experience as a template for future tours,” Dr. Mailman explained. The success not only highlighted the talent of the Wind Ensemble but also demonstrated the school’s commitment to maintaining high standards of performance, music education and artistic excellence.
Favorite Pieces and Special Interactions
For the students, certain pieces and moments stood out as especially memorable. “My favorite piece to perform was ‘Dancing Fire’ by Kevin Day,” Seth Seneca (trumpetist) shared. “I love the high energy and excitement of the piece— it was an excellent opener to all of our concerts!” Similarly, Ryan Batt shared this sentiment, adding, “Every show, we opened with ‘Dancing Fire,’ and it really helped set the tone for each performance. It’s a great piece to get us in the right mindset and energize us for the day ahead.” While the students didn’t have much opportunity to interact with high school students due to the tour’s demanding schedule, Ryan, as a harpist, had a unique experience. “Being a harpist, I often had to set up the harp, and that gave me the chance to witness students’ reactions to the instrument. It was fascinating to see how enthusiastic many of them were about music, and that was something really special.”
The Challenge of Performing Three Times in One Day
One of the most taxing days on the tour was the one when the ensemble had to perform three concerts in a single day. Seth, Ryan and Emma had their own take on the experience. “I was expecting it to be exhausting, but it ended up being a really fun day!” Seth said. “Everything ran smoothly, and while I was tired at the end, I felt good about what we had accomplished.” Ryan, meanwhile, noted the challenges of moving equipment between different venues; “It was a long day with a lot of moving parts. Every school had different logistical needs for unloading instruments, but the team did a great job of staying on top of it all. The experience was taxing but rewarding, and every school was super supportive and helped us every step of the way.” Emma (flautist), from a different perspective, discussed how this tour compares to her future in performance. “Performing three times in a day was mentally draining but rewarding. This is what we are preparing to do in our lives as professional musicians. Each performance was a little different and I loved the variety of music Dr. Mailman chose.”
A Touching Conclusion
Seth and Emma both reflected on the unique spaces where they had the opportunity to perform. “It’s a fantastic venue, and it was a great way to end the tour,” Seth shared. “I also had the chance to spend some time with my friends and enjoy the experience.” Meanwhile, Emma reflected on the resonance of one particular venue: “My favorite place to perform was the Tulsa PAC. It had a gorgeous hall that lets the final notes of our pieces ring out and then slowly fade into nothing.” The tour concluded with a deeply emotional performance of “Homage to Machaut,” a piece composed by a close friend of Dr. Mailman who had passed away. For Ryan, this piece held significant meaning, especially during the final concert. “The piece always evokes deep emotion, and our final performance of it at OkMEA was especially powerful,” he said. “It was an emotional moment for many of us, and it’s one I’ll never forget.” The tour not only allowed the Wind Ensemble to showcase their musical talent but also deepened their connections with one another and the community. The success of this first tour in over a decade has set a strong foundation. With this momentum, there is hope that the tradition will continue to inspire students for years to come, shaping the ensemble’s future performances and collaborations.
Jenny Nguyen* (Mustang, OK), Breanna McCalla (Edmond, OK), Katherine White (Edmond, OK), Naomi Tomko (Del City, OK), Rebecca Sims (Brownsburg, IN), Emma Gaona (Edmond, OK)
2025 January Wind Ensemble Tour Schedule
Tuesday, January 14, 7:00 pm – Deer Creek High School, Darby Cassaday, Director of Bands
Wednesday, January 15, 7:00 pm – Fayetteville High School, Brett Lawson, Director of Bands
Thursday, January 16, 10:40 am – Bentonville High School, Timothy Hendrix, Director of Bands
Thursday, January 16, 2:15 pm – Siloam Springs High School, Daniel Hodge, Director of Bands
Thursday, January 16, 7:00 pm – Don Tyson School of Innovation, Jeff Kee, Director of Bands
Friday, January 17, 8:00 am – Springdale Har-Ber High School, Jeremy R. Ford, Director of Bands
Friday, January 17, 7:00 pm – OkMEA, Tulsa Performing Arts Center
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