Dordt University's Wind Symphony album accepted for Grammy consideration

The Dordt University Wind Symphony album, “Music with Friends,” has been accepted for consideration for a Grammy nomination in two categories: Best Orchestral Performance and Best Engineered Album, Classical.

“Even to be considered for a nomination is a big deal not only for a wind band but for a small college ensemble like ours,” says Dr. Onsby Rose, director of instrumental activities and associate professor of music. “Our producer / engineer submits many nominations each year, and only a few ever get accepted for consideration for a nomination. Now the Dordt University Wind Symphony will be heard and considered nationwide alongside some of the most prestigious wind band recordings. To say I am proud of our Dordt students would be an understatement.”

“Music with Friends” is the first full-length recording by Dordt’s Wind Symphony. The recording “consists of the deeply resonating theme of friendship.”

“All music by composers that are in some way connected to Dordt University, either through their friendship with the Wind Symphony directly, having studied at Dordt, or their personal friendship with me, as the conductor,” says Rose. All are living composers except for one composer who passed away in 2017.

Rose points to Proverbs 27:17, which reads, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another person.”

“Each of us have worked in many ways to make our fellow musicians better both musically and in our life walk with Christ. This music was the conduit to help deepen the relationships of all that took part in the creation of this album,” adds Rose.

“Music with Friends” includes music by many of the world’s currently popular wind band composers, as well as a commissioned work for oboe and wind band by Minnesota composer Katherine Bergman, featuring Dordt Oboe Instructor Susan Miranda. Also featured will be a work composed specifically for the Dordt University Wind Symphony by Rose.

Announcements regarding if “Music with Friends” will be nominated for a Grammy will be made in the coming weeks. Members of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences voted in late October on who will be included in the official nomination list.

To listen to “Music with Friends,” visit Spotify or iTunes.

About Dordt University

As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. For six years in a row, Dordt has been named number one in the nation for student engagement by The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, Times Higher Education, and Princeton Review.