We're getting to know the artistic staff of the Metropolitan Music Community in our new series, "On the Podium." Last week, we met Jeff Ball and Kimberly Roof, who both conduct the Brooklyn Wind Symphony, and this week we're meeting Grand Street Community Band Conductor Brian Worsdale and Kings County Concert Band Assistant Conductor Frankie Dascola, who both share a love for an MMC favorite, the Holst Suite in E Flat!
My favorite piece I've ever conducted is...
The Holst Suite in E Flat. It is in my opinion the epitome of writing for the idiom and I always enjoy conducting it. The life that an ensemble breathes into that work is so palatable.
My Favorite MMC Moment is...
A tie between our first rehearsal and band camp 2015! There was something truly special about that first year of band camp and it has only gotten better.
My (non-music related!) hobby is....
Christmas Decorating and in particular the design of my massive Christmas village. I started off with a small handful of pieces and since then it is like a city. I also enjoy antiquing.
I do what I do because…
It is my way of contributing to the joy of life and I feel that we need more opportunities like this to remind us why we live in the first place.
My favorite piece I've ever conducted is...
The 3rd Movement of the 1st Suite in E Flat. It's one of my favorite works in all of band literature. I enjoy the 3rd movement the most because of its complex textures and many moving parts. It is unlike any band work I have ever played--I studied [the whole piece] extensively in college and the 3rd movement changed the way I looked at band works in general. I love playing the movement and teaching everyone about its moving parts.
I'm also intrigued by Illuminations by David Maslanka. It's the piece I want to conduct with an ensemble one day. The layering and textures are complex and the process to make the music work is the journey I'm most excited for, once I get a chance to program it.
My Favorite MMC Moment is...
BKWS went to WASBE in 2015 and played La Fiesta Mexicana. Afterwards at the reception, Viet Cuoung came up to me and I just remember him being so happy. He said, "Oh my God Frankie, I just want to crawl into yours and Jasmine's sound!" That was incredible. I got to check off one of the many things on my bucket list by Viet's response is the best.
My (non-music related!) hobby is....
I am an avid comic book reader and collect the works of Kurt Vonnegut. I'm currently reading my way through his novels in publication-order and then his sets of short stories and plays. My bookshelf only has comics and Vonnegut. I love his writing and it speaks to me on a deeper level than any other author.
I also enjoy amateur astronomy--I'm really good at astronomy facts that don't involve calculus and I'm obsessed with space. I attend frequent Astronomy Talks and constantly win at space/astronomy trivia! I also bike a lot...50 miles a week.
I do what I do because…
It saved my life, and who knows, maybe I can save a few.