On April 11, the College of Central Florida Visual and Performing Arts department presented the Wind Symphony concert, “The Finale,” which was Prof. John Ash’s last band performance as a conductor.
“This is the last concert for me as a band director,” Ash stated. “It is five tunes that mean something to me. They represent a certain period in my career as a band director.”
The concert opened with the piece titled “Gavorka Fanfare,” dedicated to Ash’s Middle School band director, Kim Yearwood.
“I started playing trumpet in fifth grade when I was ten,” Ash reminisced. “Then, whatever my class was before band, I was trying to get earlier as fast as I could. One time, Kim said to me ‘Let’s try tuba piece [sic],’ and that instrument became bread and butter for me.”
With the same warmth, Ash remembered his second director, Judy Blackwelder, to whom the second piece performed at the concert was dedicated: “First Suite in E flat” by Gustav Holst, divided into three movements.
The third piece, “Clutch”, by Andrew David Perkins, was dedicated to all composers who seemed to write music for Ash.
“I don’t know this composer personally, but he wrote this piece for me – just don’t know it [sic]. If you’ve ever been in my band, you know this is really my cup of tea,” Ash said.
Next, the CF Wind Symphony performed “Cajun Folk Songs,” a piece in two movements by Frank Tichelli. Ash dedicated this piece to Paul Hinman, Ash’s college band director, who was personally in the audience during the concert.
“It is a very crucial moment in my life,” Ash said. “During my second semester in college, he really explained to me how to become successful and keep on track. So, luckily, I followed his advice.”
The very last was dedicated to Bob Taylor, Ash’s high school band director.
“The last piece is actually the first one that I have ever conducted,” Ash said. “Bob unfortunately passed away. I wish he could be here and see this. I wish also my dad could see the finale to get the experience of joy from my students. Those teachers taught me, and no teacher is successful with awards or trophies. We are successful when our students are successful. It’s all because we were part of each other’s lives.”
Although this concert was the final concert of Ash’s biography as a band director, it was certainly not the end of his career at CF. He is going to be the Dean of Business, Technology and Agriculture.
“This path that I really want to take for the rest of my career[sic]. I want to move up and have a bigger impact on a larger group of people.”
Professor Ash has left a great legacy in the musical history of CF, which will never be forgotten.
The next performance that The College of Central Florida Visual and Performing Arts Department will be presenting is the Student Directed Show. It will be taking place at the CF Black Box Theatre on April 22 at 7:30 p.m. No tickets are required for entry.
