1. To Whom It May Concern
In 2010 Michael Sydney Jones dedicated his composition for middle school wind ensemble Excursions in Aquamarine to me on the occasion of my 50th birthday.
I directed the Marryatville High School Junior Concert Band in work's premiere performance on Friday November 19th 2010 at the school's annual Twilight Concert and it was well received by staff, students and audience alike.
Excursions in Aquamarine features simple and effective rhythmic accompaniment figures throughout, lyrical melodic lines and extensive use of Latin percussion instruments. The students performing the work found it to be a refreshing challenge from their usual repertoire of Level 2.5 - 4 band literature and even embraced the extended scale less familiar keys chosen by the composer.
I thank Michael for his contribution to the repertoire this genre and am humbled by dedication of this work to me.
(His inscription on the title of each individual instrumental part now also frees me of the heavy burden of denying my true age to the next generation of young musicians that perform this piece!)
Kerry L Hewett B Mus (Ed), TTC
South Australian Department for Education and Child Development
Instrumental Music Service
Adelaide, South Australia 2013