Sunday, August 28, 2005

The August 28 concerts scheduled for 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. will be the 11th of 13 double concerts scheduled for the 2005 season of the St. Joseph Municipal Band at the John E. N. Howard band shell in downtown St. Joseph.

Director Donald Moely announced the concert begins with "His Honor" by Henry Fillmore. In the evening program, this will be followed by a Ceremonial Tribute to the Mayors and City Managers of St. Joseph. Pat Moody will be the master of ceremonies for this event. The concert then continues with "The Chief", a bass trombone solo featuring Gordon Jackson of the band’s trombone sections. This composition was written by John Stevens for solo Bass Trombone and a trombone choir of 6 different parts. The band trombone players performing for this special trombone accompanying ensemble are Gary Cooper, Alan Mitchell, Jonathan Korzun, Robert Rusk, Drew Kaptur, Michael Shannon, Ruth Lindgren, along with all the trombones of Ed Bagatini’s ‘Dynabones.’

Bass Trombone soloist Gordon Jackson is a retired music teacher and band director from Long Island, New York. After teaching in two other school districts, he taught for 28 years in the Comsewogue School District located in Port Jefferson Station on Long Island. While there he worked in all areas of music education except high school chorus. Most of the time, however, was spend as a band director in the junior high school. Jackson earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree at Eastern Michigan University. He then spent two years playing trombone in what is now the United States Continental Army Band. During these two years, he was also the member of the Norfolk, Virginia Symphony Orchestra. He then attended Oberlin College where he earned his master’s degree in Music Education. Since retiring, Jackson has studied trombone with Hal Janks of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York City, Steve Wolfinbarger at Western Michigan University, and is currently studying with M. Dee Stewart at Indiana University. This is his ninth year as a member of the St. Joseph Municipal Band. He is also a member of the Kalamazoo Concert Band and the Dynabnones of St. Joseph. He is chairman of the "Weekend Warriors" committee of the International Trombone Association and is president of the Twin Cities Federation of Musicians Local 232 of the American Federation of Musicians.

Director Moely felt with all those fine trombones together, it would be appropriate to program next an arrangement of "Seventy Six Trombones’ by Leroy Anderson.

During the afternoon performance special guest for the band concert will by members of the 1955 graduating class of Benton Harbor High School. Troy Jones director of bands at Benton Harbor High School for many years will guest direct the band in the Benton Harbor school fight song and Tiger Rag, which will be dedicated to the 1955 class.

The final two numbers of the program will feature Jeff Cramer guest vocal soloist for the August 28 concerts, singing ‘Oklahoma’ and ‘New York, New York.’

Jeff Cramer is from Mishawaka, IN. Mr. Cramer is beginning his fourth year as director of choirs at Northwood High School in Nappanee, IN. Jeff completed his musical studies at Bethel College, receiving degrees in both Music Education and Vocal Performance. He has extensive experience as a vocal soloist, as well as in musical theatre. Jeff has performed on numerous local and regional stages, including Bethel College and the Amish Acres Round Barn Theatre. Jeff and his wife Kristin are actively involved in their church music ministry.

The double concerts are part of the 2005 summer series which the band performs each Sunday through September 4 and then concludes with concerts on Labor Day, September 5.