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The UW-Manitowoc Lakeshore Wind Ensemble’s 2011-2012 concert series will close with “An American Salute” on May 5. The ensemble’s 28th season, titled, “Tchaikovsky, Ellington and All That Jazz,” will close with a program of exciting jazz selections written for symphonic band. Conducted by Professor Michael J. Arendt, the concert will begin at 7:30 at the Capitol Civic Centre, and will feature as soloists the Searl Pickett Saxophone Quartet.
The Searl Pickett Saxophone Quartet was formed in 1994 as part of saxophone recitals performed by Professor Kay Gainacopulos. The original members of the group were all former members of the late Searl Pickett, who is considered one of the most influential music teachers in Northeastern Wisconsin. He taught for over 30 years at St. Mary’s High School in Fond du Lac, and also taught clarinet and saxophone at Lawrence University, UW-Oshkosh, and St. Norbert College. The ensemble continues as a legacy to his ability as a teacher, performer, advisor and friend. The members of the quartet include Dr. Gainacopulos, soprano saxophone, who is Professor Emeritus at UW-Oshkosh, soprano saxophone, Craig Hietpas, alto saxophone, a band director with the Kimberly Area School District and who also teaches at the Lawrence Academy of Music, Brian Lydeen, tenor saxophone, assistant professor of music at Marian College, and Dick Wehner, baritone saxophone, former music teacher who is now an attorney.
The concert will open with a performance version of “The Star Spangled Banner,” sung by the LWE Vocal Quartet, Kim Hofmann, Barbara Whitcomb, David Bourgeois and Damon Carlson. The Searl Pickett Saxophone Quartet will then perform ”Sinfonia Concertante” with the wind ensemble. The title of the work by Thomas Schudel refers to the musical form of the piece, a mixture of the symphony and concerto genres.
The wind ensemble will close the first half of the concert with Sammy Nestico’s arrangement of “Salute to American Jazz,” featuring a medley of jazz classics. Included are Dizzy Gillespie’s “A Night in Tunisia,” W.C. Handy’s “St. Louis Blues,” Irving Mills’ “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” that was popularized by Duke Ellington, and “Birdland,” which was written by Josef Zawinul.
The second half of the concert will begin with George Gershwin’s “Cuban Overture.” The piece was inspired by Gershwin’s visit to Cuba in the early 1930s, when he listened to many popular rhumba bands. Particularly interested in the Cuban percussion instruments he heard, he composed “Rhumba,” describing it as a “symphonic overture which embodies the essence of Cuban dance.” He later changed the title to “Cuban Overture” to give it a truer idea of the character and intent of the music.
The wind ensemble then will pay tribute to two icons of jazz. The first selection will be Floyd E. Werle’s arrangement of “An Ellington Portrait,” which features several of Ellington’s most memorable hits. Included are “Sophisticated Lady,” “Mood Indigo,” “Azure,” “I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart,” “Solitude,” “Caravan,” and “In a Sentimental Mood.” The second is “Satchmo! A Tribute to Louis Armstrong.” Included in this medley, arranged by Ted Ricketts, are “When the Saints Go Marching In,” “St. Louis Blues,” featuring a Dixieland combo with Dennis Kosloski on clarinet, Chris Woller on trumpet and John Zeldenrust on trombone, and “What a Wonderful World,” featuring vocal soloist Gary Neustadter. The medley will conclude with “Hello Dolly,” and will feature a trumpet solo by Chris Woller.
The LWE percussion section will then be featured in “I Got Rhythm,” a John Higgins arrangement of two George Gershwin hits, “I Got Rhythm” and Fascinating Rhythm.” The concert will close with two patriotic selections. Vocal soloists Kim Hofmann and David Bourgeois will be featured in Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America,” followed by America’s favorite march, John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.”
Following the concert there will be a reception for the conductor, guest soloists, vocalists, wind ensemble musicians, and audience in the Kadow Museum.
Tickets for “An American Salute … And All That Jazz!” are available at the Capitol Civic Centre Box Office, on line at www.cccshows.org, or by phoning the Capitol at 920-683-2184. Tickets for adult main floor and mezzanine seating are $16, and all student and balcony seating are $11. These prices include the CCC Facility Fee of $1 per ticket.
The UW-Manitowoc Lakeshore Wind Ensemble’s season ticket campaign for 2012-2013, the ensemble’s 29th concert season, is now underway. Current subscribers may purchase their season tickets at the CCC Box Office prior to the concert on May 5 and during intermission, and new subscribers may submit their orders at this time as well.
Professor Michael J. Arendt, founder and conductor of UW-Manitowoc’s Lakeshore Wind Ensemble has announced that the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association has commissioned a work by Garth Neustadter to be performed by the wind ensemble during its 30th anniversary concert season, 2013-2014. Professor Arendt stated that the commission was awarded to Mr. Neustadter at this early date in consideration of his active academic and professional schedules. He is a graduate student at Yale University, pursuing his master’s degree, and has won numerous awards for his compositions, most notable the 2011 Primetime Emmy Award for his score for the PBS documentary “John Muir in the New World.
As a high school student at Lutheran High School in Manitowoc, Garth won the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association’s Young Artist Competition twice. He won the high school division with an alto saxophone solo in November of 2001, and performed the solo with the wind ensemble at its “Winds of March” concert in 2002. In November, 2003, he auditioned on piano and again won the high school division, performing with the ensemble in March of 2004. Garth was also a member of the UW-Manitowoc Lakeshore Big Band’s saxophone section during the 2003-2004 concert season.
Commenting on the announcement, Arendt said: “I’m really excited about this project. I’m looking forward to consulting with him regarding the type and scope of the work. To have a work commissioned by the LWEA by someone of Garth’s expertise is in itself phenomenal, let alone his ties to our community, makes it even more meaningful.”
Recipients of the 2011-2012 Beatrice and Matthew Arendt Talentships were announced during the University of Wisconsin-Manitowoc Lakeshore Wind Ensemble’s “Music of the Masters” concert on October 15th at the Capitol Civic Centre. The talentship program, established in 1988 by Michael and Peter Arendt, serves to recognize and encourage musically talented UW-Manitowoc students. With the seven talentships awarded this year, the total number of talentships awarded to deserving UW-Manitowoc students since the program’s inception has reached one hundred twenty!
This year’s recipients include four sophomores and three freshmen. Sophomore recipients include Zachary Aebly, James DeRoche, Thomas Edwards and Michelle Gunzel. Aebly, a graduate of Luxemburg/Casco High School, and DeRoche, a graduate of Roncalli High School, are members of the percussion sections in both the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble and Lakeshore Big Band. Edwards, a graduate of Two Rivers High School, plays alto saxophone in both ensembles, and Gunzel plays trombone and keyboards in both ensembles. All four sophomores also received Talentships as freshmen at UW-Manitowoc.
This year’s freshman recipients include Elizabeth Binversie, a graduate of Kiel High School and member of the LWE trumpet section and Allysa Nelson, a graduate of Lincoln High and a member of the LWE bassoon section. The third freshman is Brett Jensen, a graduate of Roncalli High School, who plays alto saxophone in both the wind ensemble and Lakeshore Big Band.
The talentship fund is administered by the University of Wisconsin-Manitowoc Foundation, Inc., and is financially supported by the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association, Inc. Applicants for the awards must be full-time students at UW-Manitowoc and be enrolled in the wind ensemble for credit.
The University of Wisconsin-Manitowoc Lakeshore Wind Ensemble’s 28th concert season will be starting soon, and tickets for the 2011-2012 series have been on sale since last April at the Capitol Civic Centre Box Office. Beginning on Monday, September 12th, individual concert tickets for the five-concert Lakeshore Wind Ensemble series and the two Lakeshore Big Band concerts will go on sale.
Conducted by Professor Michael J. Arendt, the campus/community ensemble will open its 2011-2012 concert series with “Music of the Masters” on Saturday, October 15th. The concert will include “Symphony No. 4, Yellowstone Portraits” and “Trail of Tears” by James Barnes, and “Slavonic Dance, Opus 46, No. 8” by Dvorak. Manitowoc native Sadie Cisler will appear as guest soloist, performing “Villanelle” by Paul Dukas. Ms. Cisler recently graduated with a degree in horn performance from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.
The wind ensemble’s second concert of the season will be “A Festival of Christmas,” which will again be presented on two evenings, Friday, December 2nd and Saturday, December 3rd. Both concerts will be narrated by television anchorman Tom Zalaski. The concert of traditional and contemporary holiday works will include Alfred Reed’s “Christmas Intrada” and “Christmas Celebration,” and Curnow’s “Rejouissance.” .Joining the wind ensemble for its musical celebration of the holiday season will be the LWE Antiphonal Brass and the always entertaining Festival of Christmas Children’s Choir.
On Saturday, January 21st, “The Biggest of the Big Bands – From Broadway to the Silver Screen” will be presented. The Lakeshore Wind Ensemble and Lakeshore Big Band take the stage together for a lively concert of popular music. This year the concert will focus on music selected from Broadway hits which became favorite full length movies. The concert will include “The Sound of Music,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Vocal soloists and ensembles will join the bands for a memorable evening.
“The Winds of March” will be presented on Saturday, March 10th. The winners of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association’s twenty-fourth annual Young Artist Competition will be the featured soloists. Throughout its history, the competition, which is sponsored by the LWEA, has attracted talented high school and college undergraduate musicians from throughout Wisconsin, and surrounding states as well. The fourteenth annual Wesley Teply Community Service Award in the Arts will be presented during the concert. The award recognizes lakeshore area community members who have had a major impact on the arts in our community.
The final wind ensemble concert of the season will be “An American Salute – And All That Jazz!”.on Saturday, May5th. This concert traditionally celebrates America’s rich musical heritage, with music by American composers and with American themes. This year the ensemble pays tribute to that uniquely American genre, jazz. You’ll hear “Ellington Portrait,” “American Jazz Suite,” and “Sinfornia Concertante for Saxophone Quartet,” performed by guest artists, the Kay Gainacopulos Saxophone Quartet.
Individual concert tickets for the two UW-Manitowoc Lakeshore Big Band concerts which will be presented at the Capitol Civic Centre will also be available on Monday, September 12th. The November 5th Lakeshore Big Band concert, “Ol’ Blue Eyes,” will feature the music of Frank Sinatra. Joining the big band will be vocal soloists and the “Mike-rophones,” a female vocal quartet.
The April 14th Lakeshore Big Band concert will feature the return of Allen and Mara Bonde, as they return for an encore performance with the LBB.. Mara will be featured with the Lakeshore Big Band during the first half of the concert, and she and her father Allen will perform in the second half. Joining the Bondes will be Jerry Krueger, accordionist, and childhood friend of Allen, for a fun-filled concert finale.
Individual concert tickets for all concerts are $16 for adults, main floor and mezzanine seating, and $11 for students and all balcony seats. These prices include the Capitol Civic Centre facility fee of $1 per ticket. All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. Brochures describing the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble’s 28th season are available at the Capitol Civic Centre and at UW-Manitowoc. For additional ticket information, call the Capitol Civic Centre Box Office, 920-683-2184. Special discounted season ticket packages for the five-concert LWE series and the seven-concert series which includes all LWE and LBB concerts are also still available at the CCC Box Office.
Professor Michael J. Arendt, Conductor/Music Director of the UW-Manitowoc Lakeshore Wind Ensemble recently announced, that after consultation with the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association Board of Directors, he has named David Bourgeois as Assistant Conductor and Vocal Director of the UW-Manitowoc Lakeshore Wind Ensemble and Big Band. Arendt indicated that: “for many years, David has been a tremendous asset to this organization. His expertise as a musician, vocalist, choral director, percussionist, and conductor has been invaluable to me and the LWE organization. As the growth, success, and size of the LWE program has evolved over the years, it is imperative and necessary that I have the assistance of someone of David’s caliber. He is one of those choice people who gives of himself totally without any agenda other than the work at hand which needs to be done to make any and all of our performances a success. I look forward to many years of musical collaboration with him.”
The next Lakeshore Wind Ensemble performance “The Winds of March” is scheduled for March 5th at the Capitol Civic Centre. This concert features the LWEA Young Artist Competition Winner performances and the presentation of the annual Wesley Teply Community Service Award in the Arts. This year’s recipient is Ron Kaminski. After the performance there will be a reception in the Kadow Musuem for the audience, performers, Mr. Kaminsky, LWE, and Conductor.
The 23rd annual Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association’s Young Artist Competition was held on Saturday, November 13, 2010, in University Theatre on the University of Wisconsin-Manitowoc campus. The competition, sponsored by the LWEA, was open to all brass and woodwind wind ensemble instruments, as well as piano and mallet percussion.
The competition was open for high school and college undergraduate students, from ages 16 to 25. Contestants were required to perform one movement from a concerto or solo work. Scholarship checks of $1500 for first place, $1000 for second, and $750 for third place will be awarded.
Entrance applications were received from high school students from Appleton North, Berlin and Suring High Schools. College entrants included students from UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Whitewater, Lawrence University and Northwestern University.
The first place winner was Ishan Daya, a student at Northwestern University, who performed the flute solo “Fantasie” by Hue. Placing second in the competition was Appleton North High School student Gabriel Peterson, who performed Frank Bencriscutto’s “Serenade for Solo Alto Saxophone.” Kelly Eshbaugh, a student at Lawrence University, placed third with her performance of “Concerto for Bass Trombone” by Ewazen.
In addition to receiving scholarship checks, Ishan Daya and Gabriel Peterson will be featured guest soloists with the UW-Manitowoc Lakeshore Wind Ensemble on March 5, 2011, when the ensemble presents its “Winds of March” concert at the Capitol Civic Centre.
Judges for the competition were Dr. Jill Hanes, who has taught music in Oostberg for many years and has an active performing schedule as principal clarinetist with several symphonic ensembles, and Dr. Michael Knight, Director of Bands and Director of Instrumental Music Education at St. Norbert College, who performs extensively on bass trombone.
Recipients of the 2010-2011 Beatrice and Matthew Arendt Talentships were announced during the University of Wisconsin-Manitowoc Lakeshore Wind Ensemble’s “Music of the Masters” concert on October 16th at the Capitol Civic Centre. The talentship program, established in 1988 by Michael and Peter Arendt, serves to recognize and encourage musically talented UW-Manitowoc students. With the eight talentships awarded this year, the total number of talentships awarded to deserving UW-Manitowoc students since the program’s inception has reached one hundred and thirteen!
This year’s recipients include two sophomores and six freshmen. Sophomore recipients include Timothy Hlinek and Andrew Olp. Hlinek is a graduate of Mishicot High School and is a member of the LWE euphonium section. Olp is a member of the LWE clarinet section and was home schooled through Reaching Hand Lutheran. He also was awarded a talentship in his freshman year.
This year’s freshman recipients include Zachary Aebly, a member of both the LWE and Lakeshore Big Band percussion sections, and a graduate of Luxemburg/Casco High School. James DeRoche is also a member of the LWE and LBB percussion sections, and he is a graduate of Roncalli High School. Thomas Edwards, a graduate of Two Rivers High School, is a member of the wind ensemble’s saxophone section. Michelle Gunzel plays keyboard in both the LWE and LBB. She is a graduate of Lincoln High School. Joelle Mark, graduate of Roncalli High School, plays flute in the wind ensemble. Corey Schmitz is a member of the tuba section, and is a graduate of Lincoln High School.
The talentship fund is administered by the University of Wisconsin-Manitowoc Foundation, Inc., and is financially supported by the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association, Inc. Applicants for the awards must be full-time students at UW-Manitowoc and be enrolled in the wind ensemble for credit.