Horizon Middle School band breaking down mental health stigmas through upcoming concert

MOORHEAD — Eighth-grade band students at Horizon Middle School are preparing for a unique performance with an important message.

The unBroken Project is a music initiative focusing on mental health. The band will be performing in concert in less than a month.

There are four or five pieces the eighth-grade band will be performing in the concert, like “Fragile,” a slow but hopeful piece about making it through good and bad days.

Another more uplifting song in the project is “Blue Sky Horizon,” which is about the relief of recovery.

“That one is meant to be kind of once one receives help, whether that’s medication, therapy, whatever that that is, kind of seeing through that depression, anxiety episode and coming out the other side really elated,” said Horizon Middle School Eighth-grade Band Director Tim Pipinich.

In contrast, there’s “Scream,” about channeling negative emotions in healthy ways, features shouting and a unique instrument called the Aztec Death Whistle.

“Scream” is one of two pieces the concert will be premiering in our region, with the program receiving some funding by unBroken Project’s composer Randall Standridge through a consortium.

The band will also be performing for the school’s seventh and eighth graders during the week prior to the concert, with an accompanying art project for the students.

Students in the band were a little hesitant at first, but have come to embrace the idea of the project.

“‘Fragile’ was the first song and I was just like, ‘This is really cool.’ I love the sound, and honestly it does feel like a little bit of relief with the instrument playing, and I can see how it corresponds with mental illness,” said Gabriel Nedrebo, who plays alto saxophone.

“Once we actually started getting into the pieces, I actually really like them. And I’ve struggled with mental health before so I thought it’s a really good idea and just to bring awareness to it,” said Zoe Martin, who plays flute.

For Pipinich, students living in a post-COVID-19 world and a growing political divide are just some of the reasons finding a way to promote mental health and break down stigmas through music was so important.

“We’re seeing more and more students at every age level that are touched by these things, whether it’s they themselves or their families. We see more students that give up easily, learn helplessness, shut downs. And so it just felt like now was the time,” Pipinich said.

The free concert is open to the public. It will be at 8 p.m. on May 22 in the Horizon Performing Arts Center in Moorhead.