The Barbara Buehlman Distinguished Service Award

On June 5, 2022, NCB Artistic Director Mallory Thompson and NCB Board Chair Peter Gotsch were formally recognized for their immense contributions of creative leadership and service to the Northshore Concert Band with the Barbara Buehlman Distinguished Service Award.

This award was named in honor of Barbara Buehlman, a pioneering music educator, band director, music arranger, and Executive Director of the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference. Over her 36 years with Northshore Concert Band, she served as NCB’s Principal Horn, Assistant Conductor, and, most notably, Business Manager, coordinating all administrative aspects of managing the band.

The Barbara Buehlman Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes “the contribution of creative individual leadership and service to the Northshore Concert Band, towards its goal of musical excellence,” has only been conferred four times over the past 17 years. Previous awardees include Nancy Golden (Flute), Dennis Montgomery (Trumpet), Laura Stibich (Clarinet), and Dave Zyer (Clarinet)

MALLORY THOMPSON

Mallory Thompson joined NCB as our annual guest conductor in 1999, becoming our Artistic Director in 2003. She is one of the premiere wind conductors in the world and has elevated the ensemble’s musicianship, always striving for NCB’s musical growth. She ensures a rewarding experience for the members, starting with her unparalleled preparation, punctuated by her encouragement, wit, and sense of humor on the podium. Her incredible musicianship and continual teaching every Wednesday night during our weekly rehearsals, provides a weekly “masterclass” for everyone, and especially the music teachers in the group.

During the pandemic, Mallory Thompson’s national leadership prompted scientific studies of aerosol transmission of disease by musicians, which resulted in guidelines for safer instrumental performance. Mallory and NCB’s Board incorporated this information into our plan for safe rehearsals and concerts.

During this time, Mallory’s musical plan for the band included selecting many pieces of music to fit multiple sub-groups, some as small as a dozen musicians. She conducted these outdoor rehearsals into November and would always open our evening by saying with great enthusiasm, even while shivering, “Happy Wednesday! Isn’t it great we can be together making music?” She even arranged for the recording of final outdoor rehearsals to be presented as mini concerts on Facebook. In 2021, she conducted two outdoor performances at the Gillson Park Bowl in Wilmette, Illinois, with the October concert uniting the full band for the first time since March 2020.

The pandemic has reminded us that connecting musically with others is vital to nourishing a joyful spirit. Many performing organizations including the NCB struggled during this time, but we thrived due to the leadership of our Board and our Artistic Director, who is the heart and soul of the band.

PETER GOTSCH

Peter Gotsch is completing his 35th year as a member of our French Horn section, including some years as section leader. Notably, he has served three different Board roles in three different decades: as Board Treasurer from 1991-1994, Board Member at Large from 2003-2006, and Board Chair from 2016 to present. This is an amazing commitment, unparalleled in NCB history. Peter is a true leader who has moved NCB forward through unprecedented times. In addition to the Barbara Buehlman Distinguished Service Award, Peter was awarded NCB’s coveted Ernst W. Kettnich Award in 2016. This award is given “in recognition and appreciation of a lifetime of leadership and distinguished service on behalf of the Northshore Concert Band.”

Over the past two years of the pandemic, NCB faced incredibly difficult challenges. It was remarkable that the band continued to make music and emerged with quality public performances in 2021, when other ensembles had ceased to function. Peter partnered with Mallory to lead the Board and staff through issues ranging from shutting down the second half of our 2019-2020 season and the Festival of Music, member continuity during COVID lockdowns, enabling outdoor small group rehearsals, and navigating the continuing changes in COVID regulations for group gatherings.

By securing different rehearsal venues, ranging from an outdoor Velodrome to a chapel for small chamber groups, to an outdoor pavilion, NCB was able to continue to make music together in one form or another.

Peter and the Board ensured best practice COVD protocols to keep us all safe, returned NCB to the concert stage with outdoor concerts at Gillson Park Bowl in Wilmette, IL, launched an abbreviated 2021-2022 season returning to the Pick-Staiger Concert Hall on the Northwestern University campus in Evanston, Illinois for two concerts in 2022, and kept the Northshore Concert Band financially sound. In addition, he led the NCB Board in establishing a new strategic partnership with Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois, as a rehearsal and concert site. It provides a new home for our weekly rehearsals as well as a second venue for our subscription series concerts.

The Northshore Concert Band is pleased to formally acknowledge Mallory and Peter’s many contributions to the band’s success and extend to them our sincere appreciation for their service!

This content was taken from the June 6, 2022, awards presentation at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall.

Guest UserJune 21, 2022