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Symphonic Band and Chamber Winds Louisville
September 29, 2022 @ 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
The University of Louisville Symphonic Band & Chamber Winds Louisville is honored to host an Eastern Kentucky / Fletcher County Relief Concert. Admission is free, but audience members are invited to bring canned and dry food donations to drop off in the lobby.
The concert will feature The Trestle Tree, a new work for concert band composed by two musicians in from Eastern Kentucky. One of the composers, Dr. Donald Sorah, will serve as the guest conductor. After the devastating floods this summer, Dr. Sorah donated all sales of the work to Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief efforts. The UofL Symphonic Band was proud to contribute to the effort, which has now raised over $5,000 in relief funds.
You can read more about The Trestle Tree and the flood relief efforts below in the letter from Dr. Sorah.
Hello Fellow Musician and/or Supporter of the Arts –
You have likely heard of the recent flooding that ravaged much of southeastern Kentucky. Many cities and communities have been nearly completely destroyed. One such city is Whitesburg, just a few miles across the border from Wise County, Virginia where I live. Images such as the following are unfathomable, but many of my friends, fellow musicians, and educators are dealing with this disaster just as they prepare for the new school year to begin in a few weeks.
I have already donated funds personally but sought a way to support these people and the clean-up efforts in a way that I personally cannot. I have turned to my music.
This past spring, my friend Roy Crawford from Whitesburg shared a musical sketch of two themes he had composed and sought development of those themes into a work for concert band. He sought to dedicate this work in tribute to an interesting artifact found near a walking trail in his hometown. It seems that a small pine tree had planted roots and was growing out of an abandoned train trestle.
Although this tree might have been passed over by many, Roy took note and found this tree to be a symbol of perseverance through seasons of adversity. A tree such s this should not be able to flourish growing out of a railroad tie, yet it stood strong and proud. Others in the community also took note of the tree, decorating it for Christmas and for St. Patrick’s Day. It was even the subject of a painting that is now displayed in the City Hall.
These themes and the story of the Trestle Tree inspired me to compose The Trestle Tree which was premiered by The KYVA Winds, Dr. Jason Griffith director (also Director of Bands at Letcher County Central High School), with the composer conducting the work just a few yards away from the Trestle Tree itself. You can listen to a full recording of The Trestle Tree by Winds of the Mountain Empire below.
When the floodwaters rushed through the city of Whitesburg, the majority of the city was ravaged including the trestle that once held the Trestle Tree.
Roy and I would like to donate 100% of the profits from the sale of The Trestle Tree between now and September 1 to the cleanup and restoration efforts of the people of Letcher County, Kentucky. We hope that the symbol of the Trestle Tree will continue to represent resilience and perseverance over adversity as they work to rebuild their communities after the flood.
How can you help? How can you purchase this piece (PDF copies of the score and parts) and support the people of Letcher County?
- Place your order by filling out this Google Form.
- Make a payment/donation of $50.00 or more to Donald Sorah with “Trestle Tree” in the notes via Venmo (@DonaldSorah) – if you should need to verify my phone number in the Venmo app, the last four digits of my number are 2426. You can also send a check made out to Donald Sorah to:
Donald W. Sorah
Winds of the Mountain Empire
314 Oakwood Ave SE
Wise, VA 24293 - Upon receipt of payment and within 24 hours, a link will be emailed to you where you can download your personalized score and parts.
- Although not an obligation, if at all possible, it would be great to receive copies of any programs on which this piece is performed.
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