Utsunomiya is the capital of the Toshigi Prefecture with a population of roughly 520,000 people. It is the center for business and culture in the prefecture. It is a famous tourist destination known for its Gyoza and rice fields.

Before the concert I was really excited to get to play with the musicians of the Sakushin Gakuin High School. Their talent, passion, and energy is infectious. Their abilities on their instruments is astounding.

The concert program consisted of the Sakushin Gakuin School playing first, followed by the Wartburg College Wind Ensemble, and then we would gather for a finale between the two bands.

The hall in which we were playing was beautiful and much more acoustically pleasing than the gym we had played in previously. The amazing thing about this place was it’s ability to blend the whole band, but also showcase soloists and let them ring throughout the hall.

The Sakushin Concert was filled with energy and excitement. Their pieces really showcase the liveliness in which they play. They played many “jazzy” pieces. One of which was Spain. The jazz band played that at our last concert of the year, and to see it played by a concert band was nothing more than impressive. Their crispness and togetherness is hard to replicate.

Another aspect of Japanese bands is that they often like to add dancers or added “flare” to their performances. As someone who is not a particular fan of distractions I was entertained greatly. The dancers performed with such intensity it was hard to ignore. Their enthusiasm was felt through the whole concert hall. They performed Clarinet Candy by Leroy Anderson. The precision of the clarinets was astounding. It’s amazing how clean they can be as an ensemble.

Next up was the Wind Ensemble! Our concert order was Festal Ballade, Riffs for Lenny, Song for Natalie, and Semper Fidelis. The energy we played with was amazing. However, an obstacle we were faced with was the heat. Many of us players were struggling with playing our instruments. Which leads to intonation problems as a whole. We started off really well, but as the concert kept going, people got more tired, thus we started to get flat.

One of my most favorite pieces Song for Natalie hit just a little harder for me today. The sorrow in that song is immense. It really likes to pull at my heartstrings. All I could think about during that portion of our concert was my mother. With it being Mother’s Day, it was hard not to think of her. Later on, my host mother would comment on how moved she was by that song. Music really is a universal language.

When it came time for us to perform all together it was starting to get really warm. However, that did not stop us. The program for all of us was March April Leaf, Spring March, Takarijima, and Stars and Stripes Forever. The concert went over very well. The mixture of the two bands really blended well. I think playing with the High School was a humbling experience for some. As a huge fan of Stars and Stripes I loved playing with this highly energetic band.

After Stars and Stripes it was time to end as we traditionally do with Nearer my God to Thee and The Lord Bless You and Keep You. The euphoniums were today’s conductors. They both did amazing job and we will miss them dearly. It was very emotional for me because I have gotten to know them closely by sitting next to them almost everyday for the past year. I am happy to call them a permanent part of my band family.

Overall, the concert was AWESOME. My host family said they fell in love with the songs we played. They were changed by our music. And in return we have been forever changed by the loving care that was found in Utsunomiya. Truly a life changing experience.