November

A concert band is made up of musicians who play wind, brass and percussion instruments. Unlike a symphony orchestra, it does not include strings, and, unlike a marching band, it performs seated on stage. This one-week forum presented by Professor of Music Steve Shanley invites audiences to discover the history, energy and rich sound of the concert band. The session will begin with an overview of how modern concert bands evolved from 19th century military marching bands and symphony orchestras. We will follow their growth into school music programs and community ensembles, using notable examples and recordings from groups such as the Eastman Wind Ensemble, the “President’s Own” United States Marine Band, the Northshore Concert Band, the Cedar Rapids Washington High School Wind Symphony and the Coe College Concert Band. We will then turn to the story of the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band (CRMB), which celebrates its 75th season in 2025 and is currently under the direction of Dr. Shanley. We will explore how the group was founded and how it has evolved over the decades, and enjoy recordings from its recent project to commemorate the music of the CRMB’s second conductor, Frank Piersol.

Buddha’s teachings offer profound insights into developing the abilities and skills essential for a happy and successful life. These insights encompass areas such as mindfulness, critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, adaptability and self- leadership. Recent research emphasizes the importance of these qualities, often referred to as “soft skills,” as vital to employees in business organizations. In this two-week forum, Professor of Business Administration and Economics Vinh Q. Nguyen will introduce audiences to Buddha’s teachings that focus on understanding and cultivating these soft skills. In the first session, we will delve into the concept of mindfulness and its impact on improving our thoughts and emotions. We will also introduce the concept of emotional intelligence and discuss strategies to enhance it. During week two, we will explore Buddha’s insights into adaptability and self-leadership. We will examine the concept of the “innermost center,” which is key to successfully leading ourselves and thriving in new environments. Dr. Nguyen will share his personal journey and experience with this, from growing up in a village in Vietnam to living in the United States and becoming an American citizen. As Buddha stated, conquering and mastering ourselves is the greatest victory in life; this forum aims to explore how Buddha’s insights can help us achieve that goal.