The crowd filling the Perry Performing Arts Center Monday night gave a standing ovation to “A Mere Moment — Bolero in Remembrance” by Michele Fernández, a new musical work honoring the memories of Ahmir Jolliff and Dan Marburger, who were shot and killed at Perry High School in January 2024.
“If I never write another work again, I would feel grateful at this being the last one,” said Fernández of her four-minute bolero for wind ensemble. The Miami composer and former instrumental music director of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools was prevented by illness from attending Monday’s premier in Perry.
“I truly hope that all of you enjoy this magnificent song,” said a tearful Elizabeth Marburger, wife of the slain principal, in brief remarks delivered before the performance. “Each time I listen to it I hear different emotions, and I think that’s the point of the whole song.”
“A Mere Moment” was performed by the 142-person combined bands of the Perry High School and Perry Middle School bands, under Directors Lisa Christensen and Blaine Schmidt, and the Central College Symphonic Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Brad Lampe, Director of Bands at Central College in Pella. Additional musical selections were performed by the bands individually.
Fernández’s piece was commissioned by the Iowa Bandmasters Association Perry Commission, according to Steven Cook, a cofounder of the commission and manager of the Perry PAC. The project was made possible through the support of IBA donors, consortium members, the Iowa Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
