20 Years of Excellence, Encouragement, Professional Development, and Friendship
By Guest Author, Donald Sorah, Ph.D.
How WME Began
The idea for Winds of the Mountain Empire began in April 2006. I performed as a trumpeter in the orchestra for Symphony of the Mountains’ performance of Verdi’s Requiem. The idea did not come to me during the performance. It developed during the hour-long drive home.
I had been musically fulfilled by the experience and began thinking about how we might create a similar opportunity for wind musicians in southwest Virginia. As a former high school band director, I had participated in many weekend honor band clinics. Students receive their music ahead of time, gather for an intensive weekend of rehearsals, and present a concert at the end of the clinic. My original plan was very much like a weekend honor band clinic, but this would be for adults and would perform music at a higher level.
Winds of the Mountain Empire was first hosted by Mountain Empire Community College. “Mountain Empire” is also a name commonly used for our region, so Winds of the Mountain Empire seemed like the right name.
When I began contacting musicians, people were very interested in participating. There was a strong desire to gather with other outstanding musicians and make quality music together. Thirty-four musicians participated in our first event in July 2006.
That first rehearsal was a dream for me. I was making quality music with my friends. I hoped we could continue, but I had no idea we would end up here twenty years later.
The Early Years
We borrowed large percussion instruments such as Timpani, bass drum, chimes, marimba, vibraphone, and xylophone from UVA Wise and gathered music from local high school band libraries. Friends, musicians, local businesses, and community members provided financial support members’ food, music purchase, and postage.
There was a great deal of hands-on work. In 2007, I was studying at Florida State University while continuing to organize the summer event. That was also the summer Kelly Wolf and I were married. We spent time stuffing music into manila envelopes, addressing them, and mailing them to the musicians. This was before we could scan the music and upload it to a folder in “the cloud.” P.S., We’re still happily together.
The technology has changed, but the basic plan has remained the same. Musicians receive their music in advance and prepare before arriving. We then have approximately one day of concentrated rehearsal and sectionals before presenting the concert.
The music must be challenging and fulfilling for our musicians, but it must also be prepared well enough in a very short time to provide an excellent concert for our audience. That is a lot to ask of the musicians, particularly when we perform large works such as Johan de Meij’s Symphony No. 1: The Lord of the Rings or Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.
Our Venues
Changing venues has been an important part of our development. Our first concerts were held at Mountain Empire Community College. We later moved to the Gilliam Center for the Arts at UVA Wise. That was a great and convenient venue for our musicians, but the limited audience seating prevented more patrons from attending.
Our move to Union High School helped us a great deal. The auditorium is spacious, attractive, and comfortable for both the ensemble and the audience. We also have a strong relationship with the school. My wife Kelly Sorah is the choir director there, and Kimberely Sturgill, their band director performs in our trumpet section. They have been very supportive of WME over the years.
The pandemic forced us to take a year away from performing. When we returned, we needed additional room to space the musicians appropriately, so we performed in Carnes Gymnasium at the Big Stone Gap Municipal Building. That performance was especially meaningful to me because Carnes Gymnasium is where I started playing in band as a sixth-grade student. I could not have imagined then that I would return years later to conduct Winds of the Mountain Empire in the same building. Wow!
Growth of the Ensemble
After our tenth year, we began focusing more on new compositions. More musicians also began recognizing the quality of the ensemble and wanted to participate. Many of my colleagues from colleges, universities, and professional ensembles began joining us. We have a strong base of music educators at every level, from elementary school through college and university teaching. We also include outstanding community musicians from many different professions.
The ensemble has grown from 34 musicians to approximately 60. More than 250 musicians have performed with WME over the years, representing more than a dozen states. Some musicians come from across the street, while others return every year from as far away as Cleveland, Ohio.
Members donate their time, talents, and travel expenses to participate. They return for the musical fulfillment and professional development, but they also return because the event has become a reunion with their musical friends.
There are many friendships within WME. At the beginning of each event, we ask everyone to introduce themselves. This gives new members a starting point and helps conversations begin during breaks and meals. I want each person to feel like a member of the organization rather than someone who is simply filling a chair.
What Kind of Ensemble Is WME?
I think WME is a combination of a community band and a professional ensemble. It is a community ensemble because community is at the heart of who we are and what we do. It is professional because of the manner in which the musicians prepare and perform. This group plays VERY well, particularly when you consider how little rehearsal time we have together.
WME is intended to provide a professional-development experience for its members, an opportunity for outstanding musicians to gather and perform great music, and an excellent concert for our community. The ensemble challenges us to become better individual musicians, but it also allows us to contribute to something bigger than ourselves. Our work is centered around community, artistry, education, and service.
New Music and Important Performances
Supporting new music, particularly music by composers from our region, is one of the purposes closest to my heart. WME has premiered 21 works by local and regional composers. We have also participated in consortiums that commissioned works by nationally recognized composers. Click here to listen to the music.
Our “Homegrown” performances, which feature music composed by people from our region, are among my favorites. Selfishly, one of my most special concerts included premieres of two of my own compositions. One of those featured my wife Kelly as the trombone soloist.
Other significant performances include Johan de Meij’s Symphony No. 1: The Lord of the Rings and our recent performance of Carmina Burana. Those are large, difficult works to prepare with approximately one day of rehearsal.
Another emotional performance included a recording of my son Brennan, age nine at the time, speaking a poem as part of Steve Danyew’s Into the Silent Land, which was composed as in memory of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. We followed that piece with James Croft’s setting of Who Puts His Trust in God Most Just. Goosebumps and tears!
The composers whose works we perform have been delighted with the results. They appreciate our meticulous attention to detail and the care we take in interpreting their music and presenting it to the audience. I strive to do justice to every composition and every composer.
Professional Development
WME provides an important professional-development opportunity for music educators. Many music educators spend most of their time teaching, directing, and taking care of everyone else. WME gives them an opportunity to sit in an ensemble and become performers again. They study significant literature, perform beside outstanding musicians, and return to their students with renewed musical energy.
Through our relationship with the Center for Teaching Excellence at UVA Wise, participating educators have also been able to receive professional-development credit for their performance, exposure to repertoire, and collaboration with colleagues.
Community Service
Our purpose is not limited to presenting concerts. We have raised money, collected supplies, and provided exposure for Family Crisis Support Services and the Wise County Foster Care Program. Representatives from these organizations have spoken at our winter concerts and provided information to audience members. These collaborations give us more purpose in providing a meaningful performance. We are not simply performing in the community. We are using our music to serve the community.
A related project was the 2022 “Trestle Tree” Flood Relief. WME member Roy Crawford co-wrote this band piece with Donald Sorah. They donated that season’s profits to the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky Flood Relief, West Whitesburg Elementary School, Whitesburg Middle School, and Martha Jane Elementary School.
The Importance of Fellowship
The social experience is an important part of WME. There was a period when our finances prevented us from providing the luncheon during the summer event. I never doubted the organization or its purpose, but I was disheartened when we could no longer provide that meal. The luncheon is about much more than food. It allows members to meet new friends, reunite with old friends, and spend time together away from rehearsal.
Receiving support from the Slemp Foundation was one of the most important moments in our development. The grant now provides the majority of our operational expenses and has allowed us to restore important parts of the experience for our musicians. Our partnership with Pro-Art Association helped facilitate that growth. During this process, we formalized our existence, developed a Board of Trustees, and became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in agreement with Pro-Art.
The People Who Have Sustained WME
Everyone involved with WME is a volunteer. My wife Kelly, who handles many of the logistics in addition to performing in the ensemble, is a great help. Pro-Art has maintained our financial records and supported us organizationally for many years. Pete Marcum, retired band director from Patrick Henry High School in Glade Spring, Virginia, encouraged me to add a winter concert. Ron Flanary, retired civic planner, is president of our Board, has always been a guiding force in business, planning, and finances. Elissa Powers, agent at Southwest Insurance has provided her leadership and planning, and expertise with insurance. I am sure there are many others I am omitting. There have been so many guiding voices over the years. WME would not have survived and grown without people sharing their time, expertise, and encouragement.
What WME Means to Me
This event costs me a great deal in time and preparation, but it is the musical highlight of my year. It is an honor to spend time with these great musicians and friends as we prepare each program. I strive to provide the best possible experience for everyone: musically, socially, logistically, and in every other way I can.
As a conductor, I try to balance my demand for excellence with my respect for each musician as a human being. We are all investing our time and striving to do the best we can. I appreciate and honor each individual while still working toward the best performance possible.
WME has given me an outlet for working with a professional-level wind ensemble and a close collection of friends and musicians. It is one of the most rewarding professional experiences of my life, and I cherish every minute of rehearsal and performance with them.
Our Current Need
Our most pressing need is to develop our audience. Our purpose is to serve the people of our region, and we will always strive toward that mission. Audience members return year after year and tell us that WME is one of the musical highlights of their year. We want more people to experience it.
We would also love to have the support of people from outside the immediate region. Yes, it is a bit of a drive to Big Stone Gap from the Tri-Cities and beyond, but the journey is beautiful. There are many outdoor opportunities to enjoy and some great places to grab a meal. Come to Big Stone Gap and make a day of it. Treat yourself and support our organization. All of our concerts are free thanks to the generous support of the Slemp Foundation. Donations are accepted.
When I think about the version of myself driving home after the Verdi Requiem in 2006, this is what I would tell him: “This organization has a purpose. It has many purposes. You cannot see them all now, but in twenty years, you will begin to recognize the impact this organization has had on other people and on the community.”
Quotes:
*** “I’ve been especially appreciative of his conducting and interpretation abilities as his ensemble has performed several of my own compositions. I’m very impressed with the quality of both the WME performances and the literature they play.” – Dr. George Naff, Director, Spirit of America National Honor Band; Richmond, VA; composer; one of Dr. Sorah’s valued mentors.
*** “I had no idea that we would hear a musical performance of such caliber here in central Appalachia. We drove 125 miles for your concert and it was well-worth our drive. We look forward to more in the future.” – Steve Cawood, Pineville, KY; regular Concert Attendee.
*** “There are few things more exhilarating than adding the sound of my trumpet to a wall of symphonic sound. Winds of the Mountain Empire is a shared platform for top-flight musicians from our region who collectively bring great musical scores to life. In our increasingly artificial world, a live performance of WME is pure sonic euphoria. – Ron Flanary, jazz trumpet; UVA Wise Jazz Ensemble, WME member, and president of WME board of directors.
*** “I had the privilege of working with Dr. Sorah in the summer of 2024 after he co-commissioned a piece of mine called ‘Unbridled Sprit.’ Dr. Sorah took what was a challenging work and, with limited rehearsal, was able to capture beautiful moments of the music for the audience. He was professional in every step of the collaboration and projected an adventurous spirit in bringing the piece to life.” – Dr. Erich Stem, Associate Professor of Music, Indiana University Southeast – New Albany, IN; Louisville, KY.
*** “I so appreciate Dr. Sorah’s focus on local composers for this performance. The concert was a delightful assortment of original compositions, and many of the composers were present like myself to give some unique insight into their works. I’m not aware of another event of this type in our region.
“I have to compliment the band on their skill and passion. As both a musician and a composer, I’m quite impressed with the level of all the performances that day. The Winds of the Mountain Empire is a highly capable group of top-quality musicians, and Dr. Sorah has clearly created an environment that encourages excellence. It appears that the musicians are all eager to perform at a high level and obviously enjoy doing so.
“On a more personal note, I’m grateful to Dr. Sorah and the Winds of the Mountain Empire for taking such great care to perform my piece with the tremendous attention to detail and passion that they exhibited. My compositions feel like small portions of myself, and it means a great deal to hear my work portrayed with all the heart that I put into writing it. It was an honor to hear Beowulf Fantasy as interpreted by Dr. Sorah and the Winds, and I hope that we’ll have the opportunity to connect again very soon.” – Frank Pugh, WME trombone, composer and band director in VA and NC, composer of a WME piece.
*** “When I started my teaching career, I had instantly gone from playing every week with several university ensembles, to having no performance opportunities at all. There simply wasn’t much demand for tuba players in Southwest Virginia. I was grateful for the invitation to join my friends in creating Winds of the Mountain Empire. The group is somewhat larger now, and quite a bit stronger, but my feelings toward the group are still the same. I’m thankful to gather with friends to make music.” – Pete Marcum, WME tuba; band director Washington County Schools; the only performer who participated in all 26 WME performances—besides Dr. Sorah.
*** “Playing with The Winds of the Mountain Empire allows me to help give wonderful music to our community with the premiere musicians of the region. It’s a cultural treasure for those who attend its concerts.” – Roy Crawford, WME horn; Whitesburg, KY; co-composer of “Trestle Tree.”
Donald W. Sorah, Ph.D.
Musician • Educator • Composer
Professor of Music, The University of Virginia’s College at Wise
Distinguished Educator, Learning Coach, ISTE Certified Educator