Plainville Wind Ensemble June 12, 2010 Concert

"3rd John Philip Sousa Festival of Bands" Rick Lawrence, Conductor June 12, 2010 Seth Thomas Park, Thomaston, CT

	The Cowboys	John Williams
	Corcoran Cadets	John Philip Sousa
	Summertime	Calvin Custer
	Blue Moon	Richard Rodgers
	Tribute to Leonard Bernstein	Clare Grundman
	Teddy Trombone	Henry Fillmore
	Polka From the Opera "The Bartered Bride"	Bedrich Smetana arr. Gary Parks
	Semper Fidelis	John Philip Sousa
	Symphonic Dances from Fiddler on the Roof	Jerry Bock
	Who's That Masked Man?	arr. Jay Bocook
	The Stars and Stripes Forever all Festival members invited to play	John Philip Sousa

DVDs of the first 3 bands' performances will be made available and information on how to order will be sent to the band director. Please check back for more information.
John Philip Sousa IV
John Philip Sousa, IV is the great grandson of John Philip Sousa...The March King. He resides in the beatiful state of CT. While he does not share his great grandfather's incredible talents in music, he is an artist specializing in color, shape and design. Sousa travels around the world narrating Sousa and Patriotic concerts. He has emceed the Virginia Grand Military Band, the Allentown Band, the Wheaton Municipal Band, the Saginaw Eddy Concert Band, Iowa State University, the Plainville Wind Ensemble, the New Sousa Band to mention a few. And he has guest conducted for the United States Marine Corps Band. We are honored to have Mr. Sousa as the emcee at the Third John Philip Sousa Festival of Bands.
Participating Bands:
	10:00AM Naugatuck Community Band Director Charley Marenghi	For most of the last century the Naugatuck Community Band entertained town residents with summer concerts at all the parks in town and with periodic concerts at Baummer's Pond for winter ice skaters. This all ended in the 1970's. After an almost thirty year absence the community band returned in the fall of 1999 with their first concert in the spring of 2000. On the evening of June 21 a Naugatuck tradition returned. A free concert was performed at the gazebo on the Green by the newly re-formed Naugatuck Community Band. Since then, that concert has become a yearly tradition for the band, as well as performing in the Memorial Day Salute to Veterans Concert. In addition to giving annual concerts on the Naugatuck Town Green the NCB presents a holiday concert each December, Sounds of the Season. In the past 5 years the band's song list has grown to include over 100 songs. The NCB prides itself on being involved in the community and has performed in support of the Mayor's inauguration, The Harvest Moon Festival, support our troops functions, various church fairs, and civic ceremonies including the recent 50th anniversary of the Flood of 55 ceremony held on the Waterbury Green. The band has performed in several local concert series including the towns of Naugatuck, Woodbury, Ansonia, and Bristol Connecticut. Musical leadership is currently held by Charles Marenghi, musical director of the Naugatuck Community Band.
	11:00AM Harmonious Brass Director Willard Minton	The Harmonious Brass Choir is a community music ensemble that has been making music in Connecticut for twenty-one years. Coming from all walks of life, the members are brought together by a love of making music of all styles and creating the unique and thrilling sounds of a choir of brass instruments. The Harmoious Brass Choir was founded and organized by David Wheeler, retired music educator from the Torrington Public Schools. Convinced that there was an interest in playing some of the great liturature that had been written or arranged for Brass instruments, Mr. Wheeler assembled a list of brass musicians from the greater Torrington/Winsted area. He was assisted in this effort by music teacher colleagues Frank Shea, of Northwest Regional School #7, and Willard Minton, of The Gilbert School. When contacted, the response from this original list of musicians was overwhelmingly positive, and the Harmonious Brass Choir had its first rehearsal in the band room of The Gilbert School in January of 1989. Its first concert was presented in the Sanctuary of The Church of Christ of Winsted in May, 1989. Since that time, the choir has presented more than 50 concerts for churches, synagogues, civic, school and community organizations. The ensemble has appeared throughout CT & parts of MA. Boasting a large library of original and transcribed music for brass, the Harmonious Brass Choir can play music of all styles and from all periods of history. Several members of the choir have written or arranged works for the ensemble, and new music is always being sought. While a number of the original members are still involved, new musicians are always welcome. Membership has been maintained at 30-40 musicians.
	12:00PM Wind Ensemble of Western CT at Naugatuck Community College Director Dr. Richard Gard	The Wind Ensemble of Western Connecticut is a 50-piece concert band in partnership with the Music Department of Naugatuck Valley Community College. Its membership includes amateur and professional musicians in addition to college music majors under the leadership of Dr. Richard Gard, associate professor of music. The band plays a varied repertoire of symphonic wind classics, orchestral transcriptions, jazz, big band, show tunes, holiday pieces, and march music. They were featured at the Second John Philip Sousa Festival of Bands and perform at all NVCC Commencement ceremonies. For the 09-10 season the band will offer a concert to benefit Waterbury Schools Reading Readiness program, with music chosen to appeal to children: Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky, Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev, Disney at the Movies, The Syncopated Clockand Seigh Ride by Anderson, and many more. The group performs approximately 4-5 times per year and follows the college calendar. Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings, 7:15-9:30 pm, at the Mattatuck Unitarian Universalist Church in Woodbury or on the Mainstage at Naugatuck Valley Community College. The band has a few openings and invites anyone interested to inquire. Please direct questions to Pat Reinhardt, President WEWC, at (203) 426-6148 or email to:reinhardtece@sbcglobal.net
	1:00PM Farmington Valley Band Director Sam Hudak	The Farmington Valley Band was organized in 1944 by Fred Widen, a long-standing native of Collinsville. In a way, it was an extension of the Collinsville Boys Band, in which Mr. Widen had been a tuba player. In the reorganization, Mr. Victor Viering was selected as the band’s conductor. Mr. Viering had been a trombonist in the Boys Band. Victor Viering conducted the Farmington Valley Band from its inception to 1971, when he retired. By that time, Mr. Viering had been involved with Collinsville bands for 61 years. In 1971, Larry Hall took over as conductor. At that time, Mr. Hall was the music director of the Canton School System. He carried the baton until 1994, when he retired. From 1994 to the present, Sam Hudak has conducted the band. Mr. Hudak, a native of Torrington, received his music degree from the University of Connecticut and taught music in the Chicopee, Massachusetts school system. Prior to becoming conductor, Sam had been the band’s principal euphonium player. Sam has been associated with the band for nearly 40 years. Bands have been a tradition in the Canton/Collinsville area for over 100 years. The German Brass Band of Collinsville existed in the late 1800’s. This was followed by Simonds Military Band, the Collinsville Boys Band and now the Farmington Valley Band. Collinsville hasn’t missed a band beat in over 100 years.
	2:00PM Bristol Brass & Wind Ensemble Director Richard Theriault	The Bristol Brass & Wind Ensemble (BBWE) was formed in 1996 and is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization. It is comprised of approximately 50 members from the greater Bristol and surrounding areas. Our current conductor is Richard Theriault, who brings with him to the podium the experience and professionalism needed for BBWE to deliver high energy and meaningful concerts. BBWE members come from all walks of life. Membership is open to any adult and/or high school student who demonstrated an understanding of music and secondary level playing skill. Auditions are not required. We are a community of instrumental musicians who bring performances to a variety of venues including summer concerts in the park, nursing care centers, and community events such as the Mum Festival Parade. We also give two annual concerts in the winter and spring, which are free to the public. We intend to perform with the Traveler's Chorus at the Bushnell in December 2010. Our repertoire includes, but is not limited to, the musical pieces of Bach, Sousa, Irving Berlin, Leroy Anderson, as well as arrangements written by our own conductor and assistant conductor.
	3:00PM Westport Community Band Director Sal LaRusso	The Westport Community Band is composed of adult musicians from Fairfield and Westchester Counties, who represent a wide variety of professional backgrounds and bring diverse musical experiences to the group. All share an interest in exploring challenging concert band literature, improving individual technique and creating music in an ensemble, while bringing entertainment to our audiences and enjoyment to ourselves. Under the direction of Sal LaRusso, director of bands for Weston High School, the 60 piece group celebrated its 33rd year in 2010. It performs a wide variety of music includin concert band compositions, show tunes, marches, a little pop, and some classical. The Westport Community Band regualrly performs at numerous events in Fairfield County, including the Memorial Day parade in Westport, the outdoor concert series at Westport's Levitt Pavilion, area nursing homes, and its annual "Concert for Friends & Family." Each spring the band sponsors the "Play with the Community Bnad" project that provides an opportunity for area middle school instrumental students to rehearse and perform with the band. Over 500 students have participated to date in this highly praised project. The band is a non-profit voluntary organization, affiliated with Westport Continuing Education, whose membership is open to all. Auditions are not required, but the ability to play an instrument at a level compatible with the band repertoir is essential. The Westport Community Band is honored to be invited to participate in the prestigious Sousa Festival for the second time. Please visit our website for more information: www.westportcommunityband.com
	4:00PM Simsbury Community Band Director Ertan Sener	The Simsbury Community Band is a non profit organization formed in 1974 to provide an opportunity for its members to pursue their musical interests and talents and to provide the Simsbury area with free concerts throughout the year. The band plays a Fourth of July concert at the Simsbury Farms recreational complex, a Holiday concert and a Spring concert at the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Simsbury, and Wednesday evening concerts at the Simsbury Farms Ice Rink and at the Simsbury Meadows during the summer. In the fall of 1974, after some serious recruitment efforts, the Simsbury Band was born. The first conductor was Art Levine, an elementary and junior high school instrumental teacher in the Simsbury school system. The band rehearses once a week on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30. By February 1975, the group had grown from 18 to 37 members. Plans were made to continue the band through the summer when the enrollment swelled to fifty. This summer band activity was under the sponsorship of the summer music and arts program. Plans were made to have the band play a couple of open-air concerts. The performance schedule, like the band, continued to grow. From two concerts its first year, the band added a summer concert at Simsbury Farms, the summer recreation complex, plus concerts at elementary school fairs and at McLean Home, a local home for assisted living. In 1976, the band was invited to perform at the town's Bicentennial Concert. Entitled "Our Musical Heritage," the concert was a celebration of our nation’s bicentennial and perhaps the best public exposure the band had ever experienced. Later that summer, the band presented its first summer series at various sites around town. This format continued until 1978 when the concerts were switched to Schultz Park in the center of Simsbury. Mr. Levine continued as conductor through 1981, and was largely responsible for the early success of the band. In 1981, the director’s duties were taken over by William Channon, former high school band director and Director of Music in the Simsbury Public School System. Under Mr. Channon the band continued to grow, and by 1984, the group had 62 members. The band’s library includes over 300 pieces of music purchased with members dues and public contributions. A full selection of traditional marches, concert band pieces, pop and show tunes, and arrangements of big band numbers from the 1930s and 40s provides an entertaining evening for the faithful who regularly attend the band’s performances. Today the band is under the capable leadership of Ertan Sener, Music Director and conductor, and a group of officers responsible for the affairs of the band. The band regularly plays concerts in Simsbury and surrounding communities.
	5:00PM Plainville Wind Ensemble Director Rick Lawrence	Since 1987, the Plainville Wind Ensemble has been performing for audiences as ambassadors of Wind Ensemble and Jazz music. An all-volunteer adult ensemble, the musicians hail from many of the towns and cities throughout Connecticut. The wind ensemble performs throughout CT and New York. Past guest artists and conductors include Greg Caputo, Fran Wall, Mark McNally, Dr. Daniel D'Addio, Keith Brion, Lewis J. Buckley and special guest performer and honorary board member John Philip Sousa IV. The ensemble is currently under the direction of Rick Lawrence who has an outstanding history of conducting and arranging music for community bands. The mission of The Plainville Wind Ensemble is to provide an educational, social and performing environment for local musicians in the tradition of the community band idiom, as ambassadors of music. Music remains an essential ingredient in the quality of our life. We live by the motto "Our Music Makes Memories"