New concert band aims to bring university community together

BY EMILY JONES / VN STAFF WRITER

Detroit Mercy is known for many things, but music is not one of them.

Around campus you see a multitude of flyers for a wealth of subjects, but besides the Electronic Dance Music Club and the pep band, this area can be sonically dry.

Two Detroit Mercy staff members are hoping to fill that gap students and staff members who play instruments.

Vice President Arnold D’Ambrosio and library dean Jennifer Dean have decided to start a university concert band.

The idea surfaced when they both realized they had a love for music.

He plays trombone; she, bassoon.

D’Ambrosio wondered if they could potentially create a band.

After Dean said that she was in, they set out to see what their colleagues thought of the idea.

They found a lot of support – and more music lovers than they expected.

So, they are launching the effort as a way to bring students and staff together and to add a bigger sense of community to campus.

But their main goal is primarily fun.

They believe everyone can be engaged, whether they just listen along or play in the band.

Dean and D’Ambrosio said that they plan to focus on things like marches and overtures that are short and upbeat.

They will start with pieces from the 19^th and 20^th centuries that are familiar to most musicians who were in band in high school.

Those pieces will give the group time to develop and grow with one another before tackling newer pieces, they noted.

But the concert band also will play other genres, including rock arrangements.

In an email to the Detroit Mercy community, Dean and D’Ambrosio said they think that forming the band is important because “engagement is key to creating an inclusive campus community.”

They believe that the more students feel connected to the campus community, the more likely they are to come together.

Consequently, they will care more for one another.

It’s all about developing trust and communication – in a fun way, they noted.

If you’re interested in joining, email dambroaa1@udmercy.edu or Dean and deanjl@udmercy.edu.