This spring, on April 26, we’ll return to Foothills for a concert we’re calling “Variations on America,” celebrating the 250th birthday of the USA. The program will look something like this:
Amy Hoxie’s half:
Amazing Grace – John Newton, arr. Robert Thurston (Michelle Fritts, guest conductor)
George Washington Bicentennial – John Philip Sousa (Philip Wade, guest conductor)
George Washington Bridge – William Schuman
Elegy for the U. S. S. Arizona – Larry MacTaggart
American Overture – Joseph Wilcox Jenkins
My half:
Fanfare Politeia – Kimberly Archer
76 Trombones – Meredith Wilson, arr. Leroy Anderson
Brooklyn Air – Michael Markowski
Variations on “America” – Charles Ives, arr. William Schuman and William Rhoads
Of Our New Day Begun – Omar Thomas
Encore: America the Beautiful, arr. Carmen Dragon
We also tried to have our annual Pops concert, scheduled to take place on Sunday, January 25 at 3pm at the Foothills Center, but it was cancelled due to terrible weather! We featured several band members as conductors. Here is what they chose:
Into the Unknown from “Frozen 2” – Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, arr. Paul Murtha (James Behret)
Symphonic Suite from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – Howard Shore, arr. Victor Lopez (Daniel Stevens)
Bond… James Bond – multiple composers, arr. Stephen Bulla (Maximillian Jackson)
Friend Like Me – Alan Menken (Luke Payne)
George Washington Bicentennial – John Philip Sousa (Phil Wade)
Young Person’s Guide to John Williams – John Williams, arr. Jay Bocook (Gregg Norris)
The Great Locomotive Chase – Robert W. Smith (Nina Savasta)
How to Train Your Dragon – John Powell, arr. Sean O’Loughlin (Danny Reynolds)
Amazing Grace – John Newton, arr. Robert Thurston (Michelle Fritts)