The Brockton High School concert band will perform the world debut of “Brockton,” a three-movement piece about the city commissioned for the 100th anniversary of the city’s Rotary Club.
“It’s exciting for the kids, and it’s a great community thing, too,” said Vincent Macrina, director of the high school’s music department who is celebrating his 45th year in the system and will conduct the 12-minute piece during the school’s April 4 spring concert.
He said the idea for the commission came from local pianist and teacher Amy Korim, who contacted New York City-based composer and pianist Randy Klein.
Klein was scheduled to come to the high school to work with the approximately 100 students in the concert band before the concert and to talk about the artistic process.
According to a press release, the first movement of the piece is called “Shoe Town and is a tribute to the immigrants who worked in its factories and infused the city with their culture. Macrina noted that his family was among those immigrants -- coming from Calabria, Italy.
The second movement, “City of Champions,” is dedicated to all the champions who have made Brockton great, including native son heavyweight boxing champion Rocky Marciano.
The third movement, “A New Diversity,” has mixes of rhythms and pays tribute to the city’s increasingly diverse population.
Johanna Seltz can be reached at seltzjohanna@gmail.com.