Musical tribute to veterans at NIC

North Idaho College is hosting the annual "The Gathering of Bands" at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Schuler Performing Arts Center.

The Gathering of Bands, now in its 22nd year, is a festival which gathers middle school band students from all over the area together to create great music as one band. More than 400 students from area middle schools will join the North Idaho College Wind Symphony in a musical salute to our veterans and their families.

"Music is a wonderful shared experience that can take students out of the confines of their school and unify them with one cause, to make great art," said NIC Band Director Terry Jones. "This year the music has been selected to honor our veterans and their families. Each piece is a musical thank-you."

Guest conductor David Weatherred starts the concert with the "Colonel Bogey March" by Kenneth Alford. The audience might remember this piece from the movie "Bridge Over the River Kwai." The next two pieces by the Weatherred band are very familiar tunes: "Celebration of Taps" and "Stars and Stripes Forever Trio." Both selections are part of our national heritage. Lee Shook will take the baton next and direct his band for three pieces directly in line with the theme: "American Heroes March," "In Honor of the Fallen" and "For Our Heroes."

The middle-schoolers will be followed by the North Idaho College Wind Symphony. It will open that portion of the concert with the World War I favorite "When Johnny Comes Marching Home."

"This is a wish we have for all our veterans - to get back to their families safe and sound," Jones said.

The second piece pays tribute to all vets and families which made the ultimate sacrifice. John Williams' "Hymn to the Fallen" from the movie "Saving Private Ryan" reminds us of the price that is paid, Jones said.

The Wind Symphony will conclude its portion of the concert with a musical reenactment of the landing at Normandy. "Lonely Beach" puts the listener in the boats approaching the beach, on the beach getting shelled, and concludes with the haze which followed the battle.

"This is a truly moving tribute to those who put their lives in danger," Jones said.

The concert concludes with all the middle-schoolers and the NIC Wind Symphony performing a medley of all the service songs as a thank-you to all the vets and their families.

The NIC Wind Symphony is a community group with more than 2,000 years of playing experience. The multi-generational group blends high school students, college students and community members into one ensemble to create art. The group is open to the public and meets one day a week during the college school year. The community is invited to join the 40-plus year tradition of the NIC Wind Symphony.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Please note the subject matter of this presentation, combined with elements of the musical performance, may trigger disturbing and intrusive memories for some combat veterans.