On the calendar, Summer 2017 looked like a nice breather from past years that featured cross-country moves and other big life changes. But it felt jam-packed, dominated by two conferences and two guest spots. Here’s how it all went down.
I started by traveling to the WASBE conference in Utrecht, Netherlands from July 18-22. In addition to connecting with people from all over the world and seeing some amazing concerts, I gave a presentation entitled “Repertoire Resources for the 21st Century Global Wind Band Conductor”, which featured this site and the Wind Band Symphony Archive, among many others. I also wrote a daily post while I was there featuring the highlights of each day: Day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5.
The following week, I appeared with Columbia Summer Winds at Central Park on July 29. Here is what they had in the folders:
March and Procession of Bacchus – Leo Debiles, arr. Krienes
Music from Up – Michael Giacchino, arr. Brown
South Pacific Symphonic Scenario – Richard Rodgers, arr. Rogers (conducted by me)
Keynote Address – J. Scott McKenzie (2016 Outdoor Composition Contest Winner)
Cuban Overture – George Gerswhin – arr. Rogers (conducted by me)
The Stars and Stripes Forever – John Philip Sousa
A couple of weeks later, the New York State Band Directors Association (full disclosure – I’m their 3rd VP) put on a Director’s Band as part of the New York State Summer Music Conference from August 13-15. This year’s band, 66 members strong, was led by Jeffrey Traster, who picked the following:
New York Fanfare – Jeffrey Traster (world premiere)
American Elegy – Frank Ticheli
Shepherd’s Hey – Percy Grainger, ed. Mark Rogers
Finally, I filled in as the guest conductor of the Oneonta Community Concert Band at their Teddy Bear’s Picnic concert on Sunday, August 20, at Wilber Park in Oneonta, NY. This was a children’s concert that looked like this:
Star Spangled Banner – Francis Scott Key, arr. Robert Russell Bennett
The Mosquito’s Parade – Howard Whitney, arr. Paul Yoder
A Morning in Noah’s Ark – T. H. Rollinson
The Black Horse Troop – John Philip Sousa
The Syncopated Clock – Leroy Anderson, arr. Philip J. Lang
His Honor – Henry Fillmore, arr. Frederick Fennell
The Entertainer – Scott Joplin, arr. Alfred Reed
The Teddy Bear’s Picnic – John W. Bratton, arr. W. C. O’Hare
Parade of the Wooden Soldiers – Leon Jessel, arr. John J. Morrissey
Beauty and the Beast – Alan Menken, arr. Michael Sweeney
On the Mall – Edwin Franko Goldman, arr. Lake
It was quite a summer, capped by a much-hyped solar eclipse (no path of totality for me, sadly) just before school responsibilities resumed. I hope everyone has a great year!