New Conductor Takes Baton, Charts Course for Wind Symphony

By R. Gabriel Villalobos

For the first time in two decades, the baton for the Carlsbad Wind Symphony’s annual holiday concert will be wielded by a new pair of hands. But for those in the ensemble, the face leading them will be a familiar one.

Melanie McDowell, a local band director and a decade-long veteran of the community ensemble, has stepped into the role of director following the retirement of Paul Cosand last spring. She will make her directorial debut at the symphony’s Christmas concert on December 18, an event that symbolizes both a fresh start and a deep continuity for the group.

“We looked around for some different people who could be available,” McDowell said, recalling the search after Cosand’s retirement. “And really nobody decided to step up…at which point I said I would take over directing and running the group instead of playing with it.”

Taking over from a director who led for roughly 20 years might seem like a daunting task, but McDowell brings both insider knowledge and professional credentials to the podium. An alumna of the group, she has played “about everything” over the years, including percussion, saxophone, flute, and clarinet.

More importantly, she has spent the past eight years building the band program at Alta Vista Middle School, a role that provides daily, hands-on experience in music education and ensemble leadership.

“Let everyone know that I am a band director, so it’s what my degree is for,” McDowell said. “I’ve worked with the high school band and, of course, have been running my own program here since 2016. So, it’s really just adding on another level to what I already do day to day.”

This background gives her confidence as she faces the transition. “I’ve been playing with them now for 10 years, so I know everyone. I’ve been on the board in a position for the past couple of years already,” she said. “So, I feel like I’ve got this.”

Her immediate focus is the upcoming holiday concert, a cherished local tradition performed in partnership with the Community Chorale. The event will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 18, in the multi-purpose room at Southeast New Mexico College (SENMC).

“We’ll be doing some different selections, some old favorites and some new favorites,” McDowell said of the program. “We’ll be playing, they’ll be singing, and then we’re doing some combined things together.”

Looking beyond the holiday season, McDowell has clear goals for the Wind Symphony’s future. At the top of her list is strengthening the ensemble’s membership.

“I think our big goals right now are…we’re really trying to recruit more adults to the group,” she said. The symphony has welcomed talented high school musicians in recent years but is eager to attract experienced adult players, including those who may have set their instruments aside.

“We would love to have some adults who have experience and maybe used to play and want to come back to it,” McDowell said, issuing an open invitation to community members.

Her second major aim is to increase the group’s visibility and performance schedule within Carlsbad. “We’re also trying to see if we can get out in the community a little more,” she explained, suggesting ambitions to perform at venues like the historic Cavern Theater. “We’re trying to do a little bit more each year, especially in the spring.”

As for the legacy of her predecessor, Paul Cosand remains a valued presence. “He’s still participating when he’s able to,” McDowell noted. “He’s still active within the group.”

The Carlsbad Wind Symphony’s annual Holiday Concert with the Community Chorale is free and open to the public.