In this 250th anniversary year of our nation—living and performing at the seat of that history—this Boston Conservatory Wind Ensemble performance explores significant works by four American composers, sharing their efforts to encapsulate moments in history, time, space, and life.
In a profound statement of revolution, the program opens with William Schuman’s 1956 fantasy variation overture on “Chester,” the most popular song of the American Revolution, which was written by Boston-born composer William Billings: “Let tyrants shake their iron rod, and slav’ry clank her galling chains, we fear them not, we trust in God, New England’s God forever reigns.”
In stark contrast, it turns next to ideas of serenity and wide-open plains, as crafted by composer David Maslanka in his Montana Music: Chorale Variations. This work was selected not only for its captivating beauty, but also to mark the anniversary of Montana’s becoming the 41st state on November 8, 1889—exactly 137 years to the day of this Boston Conservatory performance.
The program then builds upon the theme of inspiring American landscapes with Boston Conservatory faculty composer Michael Gilbertson’s Usonian Dwellings, which was inspired by the work of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Both Wright, in his construction, and Gilbertson, in his writing, evoke an America that is simultaneously forward thinking and conscious of the natural world.
The program closes with the world premiere of a new chamber symphony by Kevin Krumenauer. In his work, Krumenauer reflects upon our collective journey through life in today’s America.
This performance has been selected as part of Boston Conservatory at Berklee’s 2026–2027 Center Stage collection.
Program Information
Repertoire
WILLIAM SCHUMAN (1910–1992): Chester (1956)
DAVID MASLANKA (1943–2017): Montana Music: Chorale Variations (1993)
MICHAEL GILBERTSON (b. 1987): Usonian Dwellings (2019)
1. Taliesin West
2. Fallingwater
—INTERMISSION—
KEVIN KRUMENAER (b. 1977): Chamber Symphony*
*world premiere
About the Artists
Matthew M. Marsit is an in-demand conductor, clarinetist and educator who has led ensembles and performed as a solo, chamber, and orchestral musician throughout the United States. Currently serving as the chair of instrumental studies for Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Marsit also serves as the artistic director of the Charles River Wind Ensemble in Boston, and as an artistic advisor and partner to the United Nations. Marsit has previously held conducting positions at Dartmouth College, Ithaca College, Cornell University, Drexel University, Williams College, the Chestnut Hill Orchestra, the Bucks County Youth Ensembles, the Performing Arts Institute of Wyoming Seminary, and the Eastern US Music Camp.
As a clarinetist, Marsit is a Selmer Paris Artist, performing on Selmer Muse and 10G clarinets, and has performed with countless ensembles including the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Fairmont Chamber Orchestra, and many more. He also has served as clarinet faculty at Plymouth State University, Cornell University, and Drexel University.
A native of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, Marsit moved first to Philadelphia to complete his studies in music at Temple University, where he studied clarinet with Anthony Gigliotti and Ronald Reuben and conducting with Luis Biava and Arthur Chodoroff. Additionally, he has studied conducting with some of the world’s most prominent instructors, including Timothy Reynish of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, UK; Gianluigi Gelmetti at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy; Mark Davis Scatterday of the Eastman School of the Music; and composer David Maslanka. Marsit also holds a graduate degree in orchestral conducting from the Boston Conservatory.
Concert Services Staff
Assistant Director, Concert Services – Luis Herrera
Coordinator, Concert Services – Matthew Carey
Concert Production Manager – Kendall Floyd
Performance Technology Technicians – Sara Pagiaro, Goran Daskalov
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