The Oregon State University Wind Ensemble recently performed this summer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) Conference, one of the world’s premier gatherings of wind bands, conductors, composers, and music educators. The ensemble was one of a select number of university, community, and professional ensembles invited to perform at the international conference, held July 21-25, 2026.
Under the direction of Erik Kar Jun Leung, director of bands and assistant professor of teaching, the Oregon State University Wind Ensemble presented two concerts at the conference featuring works by contemporary and 20th-century American composers, including Aaron Copland, Adam Schoenberg, Henry L. Dorn, and John Williams.
The programs, titled “We, Too, Are America,” reflected on the many voices and experiences that shape the American story as the nation marks its 250th anniversary in 2026. A centerpiece was Dorn’s I, Too, Am America, performed with opera singer Jasmine Johnson, which draws on Langston Hughes’s enduring affirmation of belonging and identity.
The ensemble also presented the world premiere of Slopes and Fountains by Olin Hannum, associate director of bands at OSU. The program celebrated American musical voices while asking audiences to consider who is included in the nation’s story and how that story continues to evolve.
Written over the past year and a half and specifically for the Oregon State Wind Ensemble, Hannum’s piece draws inspiration from the melodies of the university’s alma mater, “Carry Me Back,” set in a late romantic Italian style. “I wrote it for these musicians. Not for a trumpet player, but for the trumpet player in the Wind Ensemble,” explained Hannum.
“It can be vulnerable to put something you’ve created in front of people you respect,” Hannum continued. “WASBE is one of the biggest conferences in the profession, but [for Erik] to put trust in me is not something I take for granted and knowing Erik was the person working with that composition made the experience even more meaningful.”
The conference appearance marked another milestone for the ensemble, which has earned national and international recognition for its commitment to contemporary repertoire, artistic innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The ensemble has previously performed at Carnegie Hall and major regional and national conferences.
For many students, however, the trip was about more than the performances.
The ensemble’s 48 student musicians also participated in a cultural exchange with Casa Aprendiz, a Rio-based social organization that provides music education opportunities for children and youth. What began as a search for rehearsal space evolved into a meaningful partnership between the organizations.
“Casa Aprendiz’s mission aligns closely with OSU bands’ commitment to outreach and community engagement,” said Leung. “It was wonderful to see our students experience a culture different from their own and discover that music can serve as a common language.”
During the visit, OSU students rehearsed and performed alongside Brazilian students, sharing musical experiences and instruction despite language barriers.
“That turned out to be my favorite part of the trip,” said tuba and euphonium player Oliver Devereux, ‘26. “We didn’t need a shared language to learn from each other. It was incredible to listen to their musical experiences and realize how much we had in common through music.”
For Cassidy Zamperin, a flutist, working with students from Casa Aprendiz also became among the most memorable experiences of the trip.
“We worked directly with the students, shared music and learned from each other,” she said. “Traveling to Brazil reinforced my desire to explore the world and gave me confidence. Being able to perform internationally showed me what’s possible through music.”
The experience also highlighted the breadth of OSU’s music program. Approximately 70 percent of students in the Wind Ensemble are not music majors, yet they performed alongside some of the world’s leading collegiate and professional ensembles.
“This was an opportunity to represent OSU on an international stage,” said Leung. “The students went above and beyond. The musical performances were remarkable, but what stands out most is the community they built and the connections they formed.”
For graduating seniors such as Devereux, the trip served as a fitting finale to their OSU experience.
“It felt like a last hurrah,” he said. “I’d never traveled internationally before, and getting to perform at one of the biggest conferences in the world was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Since the ensemble returned to Corvallis, students brought with them not only memories of performing on a world stage, but also a deeper understanding of how music can connect people across cultures, languages, and borders.
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