A S E B R S B A T H N D BRIDGE ISSUE 117 The Official Publication of the North American Brass Band Association march 2010 opened in 2001. The Marriott City UNDER THE BRIDGE Center is a short walk from the Progress IN THIS ISSUE Energy Center, but you’ll want to make the trip there to visit our vendor exhibits and the NABBA information table. The Marriott is also home to Posta Tuscan Betsy Jones Grille and a Starbucks coffee shop. Visit From the President p. 2 progressenergycenter.com for a mile-long Editor list of nearby restaurants, cafes, and pubs. NABBA Band news p. 3 Photo by Tim Redman. For this NABBA weekend, I need more Being a relative newcomer on the friends than ever. I need your photos for Upcoming Events p. 3 competitive brass band scene, I have these pages, and your stories and ideas for only ever attended the NABBA Cham- future issues. I want to meet people from News from Overseas p. 5 pionships in New Albany, IN and every competing band. I’m planning a Louisville, KY. We’ve all gotten to few new features for upcoming Bridge Band Programs p. 5 know the city of Louisville pretty well: issues, and I need your participation. I’m the popular restaurants, bars, hotels, looking for personal stories, band sto- NABBA Summer Camp p. 7 and various attractions, as well as the ries, professional articles, or performance Brown Theater and Hotel, our gra- reviews. If you have an idea, or if you’ve Championships Preview p. 9 cious sponsors for the gala concerts and thought about writing online, it’s time for Championship Section performances. I us to talk. College students? Publication RNCM Festival of Brass p. 15 understood the traffic patterns and even credits look great on your resume. planned for the weather conditions of Contribute to the Bridge Come talk to me next month. I’ll be all early April. Credits p. 19 over the place: at the Information Table, Raleigh is the capital and second-largest the vendor exhibits, the solo/ensemble city in North Carolina, lying in the Re- competitions, and--of course--Meymandi search Triangle region of the state. The Concert Hall. Most likely, I will be hold- population is nearing 400,000. Ra- ing a stuffed hot dog. I might ask you leigh’s landscape features gentle hills, as to hold it while I take your picture. I’m it sits between the Great Smoky Moun- weird, but harmless. tains and the Atlantic Ocean. Spring See you soon! temperatures are moderate, reaching 70 during the day and dropping to 50 at night. Considering the oddly cold winter we’ve had here in the Southeast, I’m still packing warm clothes. [email protected] Many of us will spend the better part of Betsy Jones is Instructor of Tuba and Euphonium at Valdosta State the weekend inside the Progress Energy University in Valdosta, GA, USA. Center for the Performing Arts, home of Meymandi Concert Hall, which the brass band bridge, issue 117 1 ® the official publication of nabba march 2010 miraculous. Steve and his team approach This great group of ladies was tolerant ATOP THE BRIDGE the contest with the good of brass banding and patient with me. First thing Saturday in mind. All are heavily involved in brass morning was the much anticipated draw. bands throughout the year and this contest Each section is done separately, the venue Russell Morris is a labor of love. Talk to any of the three filling with bands and audience members and their passion for the growth of brass curious to see what spot they would draw. NABBA President banding is immediately evident. There was a bit of tension in the air until the dreaded “1” chip was announced. Later In addition to all of the contesting events in the afternoon, I accompanied Frank As I write this column, I am fighting off going on, there was a greater cause at work Renton onto the stage to take part in the the effects of jet lag. I have just returned this particular weekend. The ladies of “Boob Blow 2010.” Over 400 participants from ten days in England, where I at- Boobs and Brass (yes, that’s their name . performed three numbers to raise money tended the Butlin’s Mineworkers Contest we Americans need to get over it), aided by for breast cancer. I have never had the in Skegness. “Skeggie,” as many locals Jon Handley’s creativity and endless work, attention of so many women at one time, call it, is not the perfect place to spend raised close to $11,000 in the fight against and probably never will again. Awards time in January. presentations were Located on the held that evening eastern coast of for all sections Great Britain, on except the Cham- the North Sea, pionship (that the weather can took place on be quite brutal at Sunday), and the times. Howling Boobs and Brass winds, blowing concert capped the sand, drizzle, evening off. Again, rain and sleet can the ladies were all make for a gracious enough pretty uncomfort- to allow me to able time. With play as I anchored Mother Nature down the assistant working against it, 3rd cornet chair what would make with pride. Frank over 6,000 people Renton led the attend, 87 bands Rusty Morris, Jon Handley, pipers Graeme Thompson and Kyle McIntyre, and the women of band, with soloists sign up to play, Boobs and Brass. John Lee (flugelhorn), and a resort come Sheona White (tenor to life? Everyone wants to be a part of the breast cancer. This amount, and another horn), Katrina Marzella (baritone), Kirsty premier brass band contest going on, that’s check for over $22,000 (money raised by Abbotts (cornet), Mark Walters (flugel- what! With over $76,000 in prize monies, the band in the last quarter of 2009), was horn) and Simone Rebello (xylophone). I what band would not want to attend? As presented to a representative with the UK was thrilled to be a part of such an enter- an added bonus, the Association of Band breast cancer foundation. The founders of taining and musical performance. Traders put on the Trade Village, organized Boobs and Brass, Maggie Betts and Jane There are too many activities during the and run by Jon Handley of TOR Banners. Nichols, deserve a tremendous amount Butlin’s contest for me to describe here. If Close to 30 exhibitors participated. of credit for their hard work and their willingness to sacrifice for a worthy cause. you get the chance to attend in the future, Steve Walker (festival director), Brian Thank you, ladies, for your hospitality do not pass it up. It is well worth the ef- Eggleshaw (contest administrator), Stan and warmth during the weekend. It was fort—and the weather. Lippeatt (contest advisor) and a host of fabulous! others once again outdid themselves. To run 87 bands through a contest in a single Friday evening, I had the pleasure and day is simply remarkable. To do so without honor of taking the rehearsal for the ladies any observable glitches is nothing short of of Boobs and Brass. What an experience! [email protected] www.nabba.org the brass band bridge, issue 117 2 the official publication of nabba march 2010 Across the BRIdge BUILDING BRIDGES trombone, euphonium and tuba. There : are over U.S. $30,000 in prizes. NEWS FROM TRIANGLE BRASS BAND NABBA BANDS APRIL 2 - 3, 2010 The Triangle Brass organization is very Ohio Brass Arts Festival busy in its current season, performing a Columbus, Ohio. pops concert with the North Carolina BRASS BAND OF CENTRAL FLORIDA www.ohiobrassbands.com Symphony, a concert with the Sander- After nine years of brilliant success in con- son High School Wind Ensemble and a APRIL 16 -17, 2010 ducting the Brass Band of Central Florida, Holiday concert. Preparations are un- NABBA XXVIII Championships Michael J. Garasi announced his resignation derway for our upcoming concert with Raleigh, North Carolina. this month. Michael has been an integral Allen Vizzutti on March 13th, and a Civil www.nabba.org part of BBCF and has a mutual love and War-inspired program on May 15th with respect for the members. As Michael’s posi- Stephen Lytle, Director of Bands at Miami MAY 1, 2010 tion with the University of Central Florida University of Ohio. The two youth brass Deep South Brass Band Festival demands more of him, and as BBCF evolves bands are heavy into their schedule, led by Pine Mountain, Georgia. to a higher-level organization, they will Tony Granados and new conductor Jesse www.deepsouthbrassband.com greatly miss each other. Michael plans to Rackley. The youth bands just performed stay in close contact and will guest con- with trombonist Scott Hartman, and will JUNE 11-13, 2010 duct as his schedule allows. A search for a perform in May with James Ketch, Profes- Great American Brass Band Festival new conductor will begin at the local level sor of Trumpet and Jazz studies at the Uni- Danville, Kentucky. and expand nationally or internationally if versity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. www.gabbf.org needed. In addition to the bands’ full schedules, the organization has appointed a new JUNE 15-16, 2010 board of directors who are working hard Susan Slaughter International Solo GEORGIA BRASS BAND on fundraising and promotion. The Board Brass Competition is accepting donations for a special fund- Humber College, Toronto, Canada. The Georgia Brass Band is gearing up for its raiser to purchase a new set of instruments www.iwbctoronto2010.org fifth trip to the NABBA Championships.