St. Joseph High School’s Director of Bands is featured guest conducting a number with the St. Joseph Municipal Band at Sunday's Concerts.

See pictures from July 7 concert!!

Conductor of the St. Joseph Municipal Band, Dr. Donald Moely, indicated the 2002 summer series of concerts Sundays at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. begins with an English concert march by William Latham, entitled "Proud Heritage."

The band continues by featuring , Steven B. Gruver, who will guest conduct a number with the band. Gruver will begin his third year as Conductor of Bands of St. Joseph Public Schools, in St. Joseph, Michigan. He received his Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Arizona, and his Masters Degree at Tennessee Technological University in Wind Band Conducting and Trumpet Performance. He has taught at the Tennessee Technological University, Tucson Unified School District, Mesa Public Schools (Arizona), and was the Associate Director of Bands at John Adams High School in South Bend, Indiana. Mr. Gruver is an active adjudicator, private studio instructor, guest conductor and trumpet soloist. He is a life member of Kappa Kappa Psi (Omega Chapter), Music Educators National Conference (Michigan), International Trumpet Guild, Federation of Musicians Local, and Music Educators National Conference. Gruver also serves on the board as treasurer for the Michigan State Band and Orchestra Association—District 6. Gruver has been on staff at the famed Interlochen Arts Camp in Interlochen, Michigan. He currently performs with the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, St. Joseph Municipal Band, and various chamber groups. Gruver will conduct one of the very important compositions written for band by the English composer Gustav Holst: "The Second Suite in F", which consists of I. March, II. Song Without Words, III. Song of the Blacksmith and IV. Fantasia on the ‘Dargason.’

"Broadway Classics," arranged by Larry Norad, follows which includes arrangements of "June is Bustin’ out all over," "Ol’ Man River," and "If I Loved You."

Returning by requests is guest vocalist Jeff Cramer, who will perform a special selection that he has chosen particularly for this performance.

JEFF CRAMER is from Osceola, Indiana. He is a senior at Bethel College where he has completed all classroom work while majoring in vocal performance and music education. He served as President of the Bethel concert choir and was involved in several other groups at Bethel. Jeff toured last summer with his group called "Affinity" to churches around the mid west. He has been involved in musical theater, holding the roles of Freddy in "My Fair Lady", Tony in "West Side Story," and Curly in Oklahoma, at Bethel. His latest professional appearance was as the Prince in the ‘Cinderella’ production at the Barn Theater in Nappanee, IN. Jeff was a 1996 graduate Penn High School, and has finishing his college work toward his music education degree and is looking forward to a full time job as a music teacher this fall.

For variety, the band turns to perform "Rock Encounter," composed by Jay Chattaway, followed by "The Crosley March" by Henry Fillmore. A Gaelic folk song arranged by James D. Ployhar, "Morning Has Broken" and Karl King’s "The Purple Pageant," round out the program.

This concert wraps up the very busy beginning of the 2002 season with the band’s double concerts and big band opening late evening concerts and the first two Sunday’s concerts, means there have been 7 concerts performed by the Municipal Band musicians during this seven day period. Director Dr. Moely said "now we return to a little more normal pace of our season, a Thursday night rehearsal and two concerts each Sunday, for the rest of the summer, until the Labor Day weekend.

The concerts are free to the public and are performed at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. in the John E. N. Howard Band Shell across from the Whitcomb in downtown St. Joseph overlooking the beautiful St. Joseph River and Lake Michigan.

06/28/2007