91Ӱ��

At 91Ӱ��, music is more than performance—it’s a pathway to understanding, conversation, and community. One of the most powerful examples of this work comes from the Music of Social Justice Series, where the 91Ӱ�� Concert Band invites audiences to experience how artistry and inquiry can come together to spark meaningful reflection.

A Concert Series That Connects Music and Social Understanding

In a featured program titled ���Ǵdzٲ�” the Concert Band explores the music of the African Diaspora in the United States through an unexpected lens: the lowest, richest voices in the brass family—the euphonium and the tuba.

Through music, narrative, critical thinking, and historical context, students and community musicians examine how those histories continue to shape society today.

This interdisciplinary exploration is a hallmark of the college’s approach—where even a band rehearsal can become a space for reflection, learning, and dialogue.

A Community Band With a 50-Year Legacy

Celebrating nearly half a century as a campus‑community ensemble, the 91Ӱ�� Concert Band brings together musicians ranging in age from 18 to 88. Students perform alongside faculty, staff, alumni, and local musicians from many different backgrounds and levels of experience.

This mix creates something truly distinctive:

• A learning space where generations meet
• A culture of mentorship, curiosity, and collaboration
• A model for music‑making that values inclusion as much as excellence

Whether preparing challenging repertoire or discussing the social issues connected to it, musicians learn from one another in ways that extend far beyond the stage.

Featuring Voices That Broaden the Story

The series often welcomes guest composers and performers whose work amplifies perspectives too often underrepresented in classical and band music. Euphonium artist Bente Illevold and tubist/composer Dr. Jasmine Pigott are among the artists featured in the program, each offering new pieces and new stories that expand the repertoire and deepen the experience for both performers and audiences.

Their works—including Illevold’s Concerto for Euphonium and Concert Band and Pigott’s Roots Torn, Routes Chosen: A Story of Black Migration—invite listeners to consider history, identity, and belonging through sound. With each performance, the Concert Band reinforces its mission to celebrate new music and encourage thoughtful engagement with the world around us.

Learning That Reaches Beyond the Classroom

What sets this project apart is the way it brings Keene State’s core values into practice. Students don’t just learn pieces—they analyze context, share reflections, and engage with themes such as conflict resolution, justice, migration, resilience, and community. They build the critical thinking skills that define a 91Ӱ�� education, all while participating in a dynamic ensemble that bridges academic study with lived experience.

These are lessons that resonate far beyond a single concert. They reflect the College’s belief that the arts can challenge us, move us, and connect us in ways nothing else can.

A Standing Invitation to the Community

The Music of Social Justice Series continues to evolve, always inviting audiences to experience music as a catalyst for conversation. The 91Ӱ�� Concert Band proudly stands at the center of this work—celebrating diverse voices, expanding perspectives, and demonstrating what can happen when education, creativity, and community come together.

Whether you’re a music enthusiast, a prospective student, or simply someone who values the power of the arts, this ongoing series is an inspiring reminder of how deeply music can shape understanding—and how 91Ӱ�� brings that mission to life.