A Message From John Richardson - April 18, 2007
John would like to share the following words regarding our first concert at Hoosier Village: My congratulations, thanks and appreciation for an excellent opening concert this year. It really sounded great and we made music! We are off to a terrific start and we are reading and playing musically sooner than ever. Keep up the good work!
John would also like to remind you to keep hunting for any programs from the band's early years that you might like to share. He would like to start a history of our band and needs helping completing the file.
Guest Conductors
John announced that Charles Conrad, conductor of the Indianapolis Wind Symphony, will be guest conducting at our June 14 concert at Hoosier Village. At this same concert, Jim Crane will conduct his original piece, Elkhart One.
Col. Bryan Shelburne, retired conductor of the United States Army Band, "Pershing's Own," will lead us in a couple of selections in our Veterans Day concert at Hoosier Village on Nov. 8. Col. Shelburne led us in a 2003 concert at the Christian Church and it was a wonderful experience for all of us.
Dr. Robert Grechesky, director of the Butler University Wind Ensemble and the Indianapolis Brass Choir will conduct us on Oct. 14 at the Zionsville United Methodist Church.
A Message From Our Director
"Our fifth season is now complete. It seems just a short time ago that we were asked to play for the Zionsville Sesquicentennial in 2002. We performed for that function and then decided that we were having so much fun that we would just keep playing together. The band has had many highlights over the five years, too many to mention briefly. From a group of 16 people at our first rehearsal in January 2002, our roster has grown to 55 individuals. But more important than the increase in quantity is our improvement in quality through these years. We are performing with much more of a sense of musicality than before. Making music is what it is all about. I want to thank everyone in the band for an outstanding year. The board of directors has been so helpful to me and the entire band, by keeping things running smoothly and being very supportive of the tasks at hand. I can tell you that other musical organizations are amazed at how organized and structured we are. Each musician is very important, and we all do our calling with dedication, energy, and enthusiasm. Some years ago, I attended a band conference where Paul Bierly, Sousa's biographer, spoke of the 'golden age of bands (1880-1930),' and then added, 'the best is yet to come.' We have an exciting season planned for 2007, and I can assure you, the 'best is yet to come!' And in conclusion, let me add that I admire and respect all of you as musicians, but more importantly, I admire and respect you as the men and women that you are." --John Richardson
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EchoTaps
Hundreds of volunteer brass players are needed to perform the 24 notes of "Taps" on May 19, Armed Forces Day, at 11 a.m. local time, at national and state veterans cemeteries across the U.S. and American Battle Monuments Cemeteries overseas. "EchoTaps Worldwide", organized by the VA National Cemetery Administration and Bugles Across America (BAA), will honor American veterans with a worldwide performance of Taps. Organizers hope the event will interest brass players in volunteering to perform Taps at military funerals of veterans year-round. Players will form a line through the cemetery and perform a cascading version of Taps. Brass players of all ages may perform at a cemetery of their choice. Schools and other organizations are also invited to participate as performers or supporting volunteers. More information and a sign-up sheet are at www.echotaps.org and www.va.gov/volunteer/spotlight.cfm. The first "EchoTaps" was held in May 2005, when 674 brass players from 30 states lined 42 miles of road between the Woodlawn and Bath national cemeteries in Elmira and Bath, N.Y. Cascading "Taps" lasted nearly three hours from the first note at Woodlawn to the last at Bath. On Veteran's Day 2006, players performed "EchoTaps" at 52 national and state veterans cemeteries. For information, contact Bugles member Les Hampton, 607-974-3739; or email HamptonLE@Corning.com. If you need assistance finding the closest National Cemetery to volunteer for, you're more than welcome to check back with me. I'm coordinating activites at Crown Hill National Cemetery here in Indianapolis, IN. Additional information at BAA website: http://www.buglesacrossamerica.org
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