The SUNY Broome Concert Band (SBCB), under the direction of Professor Karen Clark, had a visitor in class on Oct. 3, 2019: Kris Gilbert, a public school music educator for the Whitney Point School District and a local composer.
Gilbert collaborated with the band on a composition created without notation on paper — essentially “on the fly.” It was fascinating to watch her work with the band and listen to the new work that they created.
Kris got the idea for collaborative composing with a live concert band from watching pianist Ben Folds of the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five compose live with an orchestra at the Kennedy Center. Videos on YouTube show Folds “teaching” by rote — meaning, without printed music — short melodies and accompaniments to different sections of the orchestra.
Professor Clark thought the process was fascinating and was thrilled to also participate with the band on the clarinet.
“This was a great opportunity for our music students to put into practice the aural skills acquired in the music theory and ear training courses. No one in this area is doing this,” she said. “It was a unique experience that would be different every time. It was fun stepping inside Kris’ mind and taking part in the collaborative process.”
Gilbert is a highly sought-after clinician, guest conductor, accompanist, music director, composer, arranger and vocal coach. She received her training at the Crane School of Music, where she was a winner of the annual Student Conducting Competition. She received her masters of music in composition from Binghamton University, where she received the graduate award of excellence in composition.
As a composer, she has received accolades for her arrangements and compositions for varying instrumentation. In 2014, her composition “Beezlebub’s Lair” received fourth place in the international competition “Scary!” put on by the Virtual Artists organization. Most recently, she has been awarded a commission by the Binghamton Community Orchestra which performed her work “Triple Cities Suite” in May 2018.
Kris Gilbert and the SBCB will demonstrate collaborative composition live in front of an audience at SUNY Broome Concert Band spring concert at 7:30 p.m. May 7 at Binghamton High School.
The SUNY Broome Concert Band’s next performance will be at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Binghamton High School. The program features works by Grundman, Gordon Jacob, and Dvorak.
