The prep for the Dartmouth Wind Ensemble's Mexico Tour next spring begins! DCWE Director Brian Messier and Hop Associate Producer Karina Sainz visited Mexico City to set things in motion. Messier guest conducted the Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) wind ensemble as part of a conductor exchange program with conductor Luis Manuel Sanchez. Messier conducted the Mexican premiere of s Nubia Jaime Donjuan's Little Mexican Suite as well as Fandangos by Roberto Sierra.

Mariachitlán (Mariachiland) is an orchestral homage to my birthplace, the Mexican state of Jalisco, where mariachi music originated. The work recounts my experience visiting the Plaza de los Mariachis in Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, a place where mariachis play their songs in every corner and interrupt each other to win over the crowd. Spring 2022

Cumbia Moderna was born during lockdown, one calm, sunny afternoon of 2020. The ideas for the piece arose from having been listening to a weekly stream of a local DJ in Mexico, Sonido Confirmación, who would play cumbias on Instagram live, and my interest in orchestral music that can pull you in and make you lose track of time.

The Virtual Culley Concerto Competition is open to all currently enrolled Dartmouth College students who play a string, woodwind, brass or percussion instrument. Students do not need to be on campus or on term to participate. 

Grand Prize: $500
First Prize: $300
Second Prize: $100

On Sunday, November 3rd, DCWE recorded the commissioned work Symphony for Winds "Dartmouth" by Oliver Caplan '04.  Watch the event on Youtube. 

Venezuelan trumpet legend Pacho Flores shared the stage with the Dartmouth College Wind Ensemble for a breathtaking performance. Guest artists also included: Eric Berlin, Héctor Molina and Luis Manuel Sánchez.

World Premiere
1. Ahuehuete (Montezuma Cypress)
2. Mezquite (Mesquite); Nathaniel Chen ’25, oboe
3. Ayacahuite (Mexican White Pine)
4. Sahuaro (Cactus)
5. Cacalosúchil (Plumeria Rubra); Jacob Wesley Dell ’22, tenor saxophone
6. Ceiba (Sacred tree of the Maya)

My Experience as a Mexican-American Music Student by Eric Jimenez and Cory Meals.

The Wind Ensemble launched a competition to choose up to three compositions to be premiered in New Hampshire by the ensemble in the 2020-21 academic year and performed in Mexico during a 2021 tour of that nation!

One solo selection or study etude of your choice that best displays your current playing ability—at least four minutes of music

All major scales and a chromatic scale through the complete range of your instrument

Sight-reading will also be included on all auditions

Percussionists: please prepare samples of your playing on at least two instruments highlighting your strongest skills in the percussion section. No scales will be required, but sight-reading on a variety of instruments will be requested.