The Blog
The BCM Forum moves on...
BCM International is shifting its focus and web presence. The four of us have become increasingly busy in our individual musical lives, and thus have no been able to focus on BCM-related activities for a while.
After recent discussions, we have decided to freeze the BCM Forum in its current form, so that if continues to serve as an archived reference for the many valuable, fascinating conversations and topics we've covered over the past 8 years. As of today, we will not be accepting new registrations or posts, and all topics will be locked - we unfortunately do not have the time or resources to manage and update the forum software, along with all the other behind-the-scenes administrative and technical responsibilities that go into maintaining a website. That being said, BCM is not going away - you can find us on our BCM Facebook community fan page, where we hope further discussions will blossom.
As always, you can find us each at our respective websites and social networking sites:
BCM International on Facebook
Eric Whitacre
Steven Bryant
Jonathan Newman
Jim Bonney
We owe a HUGE "thank-you" to the many, many people who have participated here over the past eight years. We wish you all the very best in your musical endeavors!
BCM @ Midwest 2008
Unlike the past 7 years, BCM will not have a separate, self-contained booth. Instead, we'll have space as part of the Hal Leonard booth, which is on the same aisle we were always on, so just come to the same area we used to be and look around - you'll find us. It won't be the same kind of setup - we won't be hanging around all the time with iPods and scores, but there will be some sort of display of our music, and Eric, Jonathan, and Steve will be there Thursday 1:30-3pm or so. Maybe also on Wednesday afternoon - that's still being determined.
Also, we have performances:
* Wed. 1pm: Penn HS Sym. Band does Steve's "Radiant Joy"
* Thurs. 11:30am: Lockport Township HS Wind Ens. premieres Eric's "Libertas Imperio" (he's conducting)
* Thurs. 5:30pm: USAF Band of Flight does a part of Steve's "First Light" on its reading session
More information and pictures as one of us gets time.
Labels: First Light, Libertas Imperio, Midwest, Radiant Joy
BCM Midwest Booth 2007
A month late, but finally - a few glimpses of BCM life at Midwest 2007!
DAY 1
The booth, freshly setup and ready to go, Wednesday morning. Verena has been instrumental in putting the place together the past two years.
Daniel taking a picture of Steve taking a picture of the booth. Metaphotography at its...finest?
Newman, ready for action...
Composer Donald Grantham stops by the booth.
About 3pm on Wednesday, Terry Austin dropped by the booth and casually notified Steve that Radiant Joy won the NBA/Revelli prize!! Excellent way to start the convention... :)
Jonathan interview Daniel Montoya Jr. cohort, Cathy Benford, for a (possible) upcoming BCM Midwest podcast
Composer and classical radio superstar Chris Tucker is persuaded into a picture with Steve
Steve and Jonathan gang up on Emory University's Scott Stewart
Even through a crowd, Joel Puckett can make sweet love to the camera... (scroll down on that link for it to make sense)
DAY 2
Jim arrives on the scene, wide-eyed and ready to go.
Eric Ewazen came by and caught up with his old Juilliard Teaching Assistant, Newm.
Newm forces St. Charles East HS director Jim Kull to go on ad infinitum about the wonder and majesty that is BCM International. Jim's really good at this. We like Jim a lot.
Frank Ticheli gets a little closer with Steve.
75% of BCM with our Hal Leonard go-to guy and guru, Bruce Bush.
DAY 3
Jim and Newm.
David "WildKoba" Kobayashi, a man of few words and many drinks
James Colonna (Indiana Univ.-Purdue Univ. Fort Wayne), Steve, Jack Stamp. Jim is conducting Radiant Joy this spring with his group in Fort Wayne, and Jack commissioned the piece back in 2006.
Mark Morette of Mark Custom Records drops by. This is how he normally dresses.
The St. Charles East HS Wind Ensemble does a rehearsal clinic with Linda Moorehouse on Steve's Suite Dreams
Nearing the end of the convention, Newm's weariness becomes apparent.
At dinner Friday night with Jerry Junkin and the UT entourage, they surprise Steve with a special slice of cake in honor of his winning the Revelli award. Mmm, cake is good. Though I didn't have my brand new swanky Nikon dSLR handy, this one's for you, Mackey.
After that, it was time to pack up, go home, and rest. As always, we really enjoyed seeing old friends, and making new ones, and we thank every one of you that took time to sit down and listen to some of our music!
Labels: Midwest
I'm honored to announce Radiant Joy has been awarded the National Band Association's 2007 William D. Revelli Composition award!! Thank you to Terry Austin and the NBA Revelli award committee, and to the NBA as a whole for supporting the creation of new music with their various contests and mentoring programs.
Labels: Composition Contest, NBA, Radiant Joy, Revelli
BCM is at Midwest again this year, in our usual spot, #325. If you're at the convention, please come by and pay us a visit!