March 2011 - World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles

Marcelo Jardim
Conductor and band director at
the Rio de Janeiro Federal
University School of Music (UFRJ),
Marcelo Jardim also works with the
UFRJ Wind Orchestra, both as
music director and conducting
teacher. He is artistic coordinator of
the Brazilian National Band System,
a nationwide project maintained by
Funarte (Brazilian National
Foundation for the Arts). He
completed his BA and MA in UFRJ and is also undergoing DD studies
at UniRio; his research is focused on the works of Heitor Villa-Lobos
for bands. As a conductor, arranger, and lecturer, Marcelo Jardim has
participated in various seminars, conferences, courses, and concerts
with both Symphony Orchestras and Symphonic Bands in Brazil, Latin
America, Europe, and the United States. He develops commissioning
projects focused on new works for bands and Symphony Orchestras
and also gives direct support to editorial projects such as Danza Music
Latin America in addition to collaborate in the the First Latin
American Composition Competition for Wind Orchestra. By invitation
of Yamaha, he was also guest conductor and lecturer at the Yamaha
International Music Seminars, held in Colômbia, conducting the Latin
America Wind Orchestra.
Vision Statement
I have been fully committed for many years in developing a
standardized work with Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles in
Brazil. In this course, I had the opportunity to engage myself in
projects of great musical quality in Latin America, Europe, and the
United States as well. Such involvement led me to realize that there is
no formula for success in development of bands, other than striving
to make available the adequate resources, with a great commitment
to quality, and to cultivate consistent and deep human relations. The
emergence of new musical pieces composed specially for bands,
made possible by commissioning projects, as well as the recuperation
of the traditional band repertoire, are two fantastic supporting tools
for reaching excellence in band performance. I do believe that music,
as a universal language, is one of the strongest agents of communication
among people, perhaps the only one effectively capable of
bringing them together. In his aspect, WASBE’s ideals are in full
resonance with what I believe is the right path to be followed. The
possibility of becoming a member of the WASBE Board seems to me a
perfect way to contribute even more effectively for the development
of Wind Ensembles, as well as to learn and share experiences with all
the fantastic professional musicians and students it comprises. It is my
conviction that the the finest and well-performed Wind Band music
can be a great channel to promote this kind of exchange and understanding,
and also to make possible to reach the organization’s stated
goals.
Cynthia Johnston Turner
Cynthia Johnston Turner is an active international guest conductor,
conducting and ensemble clinician, teacher and festival adjudicator. A
Canadian, she completed her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of
Education degrees at Queens University, and her Master of Music in
music education and conducting at the University of Victoria, and her
DMA (Conducting) at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY.
At Cornell University, Cynthia is director of Wind Ensembles,
overseeing the Wind Ensemble,
Wind Symphony, Chamber Winds,
and other chamber ensembles. She
also serves as faculty advisor to CU
Winds, a student-driven organization
devoted to the promotion
and performance of wind music.
Cynthia has led the Cornell Wind
Ensemble on performing and
service-learning tours to Costa Rica
that include performances across
the country, master classes with
over 500 Costa Rican children and
the donation of over 200 instruments to rural music schools. Working
with the government of Costa Rica, Cynthia is very involved with
Sistema Nacional Educacion de Music. She has commissioned
numerous new works for wind ensemble from international
composers. Cynthia is principal guest conductor of the Austrian
Festival Orchestra in Salzburg.
Vision Statement
I have been an active member and supporter of WASBE for several
years because I believe strongly in the organization’s mission, and I
have been inspired by Warren Benson’s Statement of Understanding
written in 1990. Having served on various task forces and contributed
at conferences, I am excited about the possibility of serving on a
deeper, more formal level. I was asked by Past President Glenn Price
to be part of an outreach task force and I look forward to continuing
the effort to increase the diversity and membership of our organization.
I also look forward to expanding the possibilities of
“membership”; how members are served and how members serve
the mission.
Harrie Reumkens
After his Gymnasium education
Harrie Reumkens studied German
language and literature at the
University of Amsterdam. He
started his musical career playing
euphonium with one of the
Netherland’s top Fanfare Bands,
Fanfare Eendracht Nieuwenhagerheide.
At Heerlen Music School he
did the complete six grade training
programme, finishing each grade
with distinction. During his studies in Amsterdam he was also a
member of Brass Band Amsterdam. After finishing his degree in
Amsterdam, Harrie Reumkens returned to Limburg, where he became
assistant conductor and vice-chairman to his band, as well as a
member of the executive board of the Limburg Union of Bands, and
chairman of the Wind Composers Collective Cluster.
He is also an active singer and in 1992 co-founded the Choir X in G
Landgraaf. In the mid-eighties Harrie Reumkens was a regular guest
player with Brass Band Limburg, of which band he then became a
member until 1996, now playing the Eb-Tuba.
Momentarily he plays with his Fanfare Eendracht Nieuwenhagerheide,
where he still is assistant conductor, cooperating with
conductor Hardy Mertens; he still sings in Choir X in G, and he
conducts the hunting horn group Jachthoornblazers St. Hubertus
Nieuwenhagen.
In 1987 he was appointed executive secretary of the WMC
WASBE World 9