The Brass Band Bridge

A S E B R S B A T H N D BRIDGE H issue 103 The Official Publication of the North American Brass Band Association March, 2007 cert Championship. Adding to trips abroad UNDER THE BRIDGE by NABBA members is a report from Diana IN THIS ISSUE Herak on the Royal Northern College of Music Festival of Brass (Manchester, England) and my Douglas Yeo report on activities sponsored by Brass Band, ATOP THE BRIDGE part of the Mineworker's Open Champion- From the President, pg. 2 Editor ships (Skegness, England). The cross-pollinisa- tion of North American band members with those in the UK continues to be a major source BUFFET CRAMPON he first NABBA Championships was of inspiration for players on both side of the NABBA XXV Sponsor, pg. 4 held on April 23, 1983 in Raleigh, Atlantic. For instance, the James Madison Uni- North Carolina. Six bands participated versity Brass Band recently welcomed Katrina Tin three sections: Smoky Mountain British TOR DESIGNS Marzella (principal baritone horn of the Fairey Brass Band and Weston Silver Band competed Band) as a guest soloist while a few months NABBA Banners, pg. 5 in the Championship section, North Carolina later I sat behind Katrina as a member of the State University British Brass Band, Rockville Brass Band Aid Celebrity Band in a concert in Brass Band and Wilson Community British England. We are all ambassadors for our own NABBA BAND NEWS Brass Band competed in the Second section, unique approaches to brass band music and pg. 6 and the North State Silver Cornets played music making. for comments only. Smoky Mountain and North Carolina State were the winners of the NABBA is very pleased to announce that Buf- FOCUS ON YOUTH first NABBA Championships and it is excit- fet Crampon (owners of Besson) has come on Cincinnati Honors, pg. 7 ing to consider all that has happened in the board as a major sponsor of the NABBA XXV intervening years to bring us to NABBA XXV Championships. We are deeply grateful for next month. NABBA founder J. Perry Watson Buffet Crampon's desire to support NABBA in BAND PROGRAMS provides us with some insight from those early such a significant way. We are also thankful for pg. 8 years of NABBA in an interview in this issue of the “in kind” sponsorship of Tor Designs who The Brass Band Bridge; we will always be in debt will be supplying NABBA with music stand to Perry Watson for his hard work and sacrifices banners for our Championships venues as well BBCF TRIP TO ENGLAND which established NABBA. as newly designed prize banners for winning bands. When you stop by the Buffet Crampon pg. 10 The NABBA XXV Championships features and Tor Designs stands in the exhibitor area 28 bands playing wide-ranging repertoire and at Indiana University Southeast, please make a NABBA XXV PREVIEW an expanded solo and small ensemble contest. point to thank them for their special support of This issue of The Bridge brings you the most NABBA. Full coverage, pg. 13 - 27 comprehensive pre-Championships coverage we have ever carried including a list of Bands in contest, solo and small ensemble COMPACT DISC REVIEWS all competing bands and their recent finishes contest, gala concert, vendors showing their at NABBA Championships. This year's gala latest wares and of course food, friendship and By Ronald Holz, pg. 27 concert, given by the USA Southern Territorial interaction are all part of the NABBA Cham- Band of the Salvation Army will feature soloist pionships coming up at Indiana University WHAT HAPPENED TO. .? Sheona White, the celebrated tenor horn player Southeast and Louisville’s Brown Theater on most recently with the Yorkshire Building April 13-14. See you there! J J. Perry Watson, pg. 31 Society Band. EXIT RAMP Woody Anderson offers an extensive report of the Brass Band of Central Florida’s recent suc- Contribute to the Bridge, cessful trip to England where they gave several Credits, pg. 36 concerts, recorded a CD for World of Brass and took fourth place in the Brass in Con- the brass band bridge, issue 103 1 the official publication of nabba March, 2007 tor. I was selected! My first conducting gig! Leidzén is sitting in the center with two other ATOP THE BRIDGE The class was divided into three sections and great musicians; Vernon Post and the late it was my job to make sure that each section Richard Holz. I’m on the end, second row came in at the right time, say their part and from the top and standing one away from me is Anita Cocker Hunt all stay together. Basic conducting 101! This Carole Dawn Reinhart, my cornet and theory experience started me on the conducting path instructor and another great influence. It was – certainly not professionally – but it gave me a wonderful to meet up with Carole at the Inter- NABBA President fun and enjoyable experience and my teachers national Women’s Brass Conference in 2003 made that happen. where she was awarded a Pioneer Honoree. Also shown here is a letter I received from Mr. Greetings NABBA Members, A place of inspiration for me and many of you, Leidzén (see The Bridge Issue 103 slide show is Star Lake Musicamp in New Jersey. I started for larger images of the photo and letter). I As we approach our 25th anniversary Cham- have kept it all these years and it reminds me pionships, it made me think of the influences that this extraordinary composer took the time we have in our lives. You and I are influenc- to write me, just a little kid in his band at the ing more people than we think – well at least Musicamp. How special that was for me. we’re making some kind of impression! Parents certainly have a great impact but what about Those are just a few reflections on past influ- the daily contact of close friends, teachers, ences for me. Peers and colleagues continue band directors, performers, and others? Who to have an impact on me and perhaps this will or what had an influence on you to choose the cause you to think about the influence YOU instrument you play, your profession, even have on many people. It may be the little being involved in brass banding? things you say or do for others that might have a great impact on their lives. One of the most People, places, events and personal experiences Star Lake Musicamp Band with Erik Leidzén. important things we can do is influence our all play a part in shaping our lives. I’d like to young people to enjoy and participate in brass mention a few from my early years that had attending at the age of 13 as a camper and continued in later years as an instructor. At banding. That will assure the future of brass an influence on me; perhaps you can relate to banding in North America. these. Star Lake we were privileged to meet compos- ers, conductors and musicians from around the Our upcoming Championships will be the An experience that happened when I was nine world. We not only played in rehearsals and biggest ever with new bands and more youth years old still comes to mind. The school performances with theses folks but sat with bands participating. It is evident that a lot of Christmas Pageant was approaching and the them in the dining hall, chatted with them work is going on and NABBA is growing. entire fourth grade class of over 100 kids was on the bleachers at the ball field and at the to perform Over The River And Through The campfire and got to know them on a personal The Bridge has become a wonderful publica- Woods in speech-song. Auditions were held for level. During my first year at Star Lake I made tion, full of information and great articles. I someone in the fourth grade to be the conduc- second cornet in the top Star Lake Band under hope that you make sure and read every copy. the direction of Erik Leidzén and Richard Thanks to Doug Yeo for making this an attrac- Holz. Upon reflection, this was a one time tive and informative publication for all of us. experience I would have as Erik Leidzén passed away four months later. And now a very special announcement: I would like to express thanks and apprecia- During one rehearsal, Mr. Leidzén became tion to Buffet Crampon for their sponsorship very upset at the second cornets for continu- gift of $10,000 to NABBA. This will greatly ally coming in wrong – the piece was This Is help towards expenses incurred in running a My Story in Mr. Leidzén’s arrangement. Mr. competition. This came to fruition through Leidzén raised his voice at us – no, I remember the perseverance of NABBA board member Joe him yelling at us! We finally got it right, and Johnson. Thanks, Joe. that evening after the performance (the second cornets came in right!) I was standing next to I look forward to seeing you at the Champion- Mr. Leidzén listening to the recording of the ships. Please remember to stop by the exhibits performance. He leaned over and said, “Did and express your appreciation to them for their I scare you this afternoon?” I thought, “He’s support of NABBA. Thanks, everyone. J sorry and going to apologize for yelling at us.” So, all I said was, “Yes,” to which he replied with an emphatic, “GOOD.” In the picture of the Star Lake Band, Erik Achuntband @ aol .

Load more