Hey there,
The Waunakee Tribune ran a story about the piece I composed for World Diabetes Day! Check it out below:
Posted on Nov 5, 2015 by Roberta Baumann
Since the 19th Century, musicians have expressed their deepest emotions – misery, joy, love and despair – through the blues.
The blue circle is also the global symbol chosen by the International Diabetes Federation to represent World Diabetes Day, as it signifies the unity among nations in the effort to reduce the disease.
And so on Nov. 14, World Diabetes Day, the Waunakee Lions Club has organized a blues concert to help spread awareness.
The Madison College Big Band will perform a free concert from 7-8:15 p.m. at the Waunakee High School Performing Arts Center. And concert-goers will hear the premier of the song, “Diabetes and Me,” written especially for World Diabetes Day.
The Lions Club commissioned Madison musician and music teacher Kyle Rightley to write the piece.
Rightley plays in the band, The Big Payback, with Madison College Big Band director Jamie Kember, he said, and had written songs for that band.
Rightley describes “Diabetes and Me” as a “jazz waltz.”
“It’s a little like a blues song. The verses follow a blues format. Blue is kind of the official color of this event.”
The song will feature the full big band with a vocalist singing.
Rightley said the lyrics deal with the symptoms and management of diabetes.
“From there, the song talks about managing the disease and arming yourself with knowledge and doing your best to live a healthy lifestyle,” he said.
The World Diabetes Day event begins at 6 p.m. at Waunakee High School with free diabetes screenings and informational booths. During a reception following the 7 p.m. concert, Rightley will autograph programs.
The event is part of the Lions Club’s Operation Diabetes Blue, which also will feature 70 village light poles downtown lighted in blue during November. Residents are also asked to light their homes in blue to recognize the need for diabetes awareness.
The Leo Club, the high school chapter of the Lions Club, has sponsored other events to raise awareness of diabetes.
On Nov. 17, the Waunakee girls’ basketball game will also have a diabetes theme, sponsored by the Leos Club.
Diabetes affects nearly 30 million children and adults in the United States, and the number of of youths with type 2 diabetes is projected to increase by 49 percent over the next 40 years, according to the American Diabetes Association.
I'm really looking forward to this event on Saturday. It's been a pleasure to work with the Madison College Big Band to bring this piece to life.
See you there!
Kyle