Strike up the band
Published 12:01 am Friday, June 24, 2005
By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
A doubleheader leads off the 2005 St. Joseph Municipal Band season Sunday beneath its renovated band shell overlooking Lake Michigan in St. Joseph.
The band, with three musicians from Dowagiac in Rich Bressler and Jon and Donna Korzun, performs at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 26, then again at 9 p.m. for a big band nightcap.
It takes a special concert to dedicate a half-million-dollar shell project, so the baton is being passed back to former 40-year conductor John E.N. Howard, who kicked off the fundraising in 2004 with a $250,000 matching grant.
Howard will direct the national anthem for the opening ceremony, followed by the traditional "Strike Up the Band." After a brief interlude to dedicate the new band shell seating and landscaping project, Howard will return to the podium to lead "Americans We" by Henry Fillmore.
Then St. Joseph Municipal Band's present conductor, Dr. Donald Moely, will lead "Rejouissance," which enjoyed its world premier in 1987 as the last number Howard conducted.
It was commissioned in honor of and "lovingly dedicated to John E.N. Howard to celebrate 40 years as conductor, 1948-1987."
"Rejouissance" is a French word meaning enjoyment or to be glad or make happy. In English it's "Rejoicing."
As a conductor, clinician and composer, Curnow has traveled throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe to wide acclaim for his music.
His published works number more than 200, for which he has won several awards.
To give Curnow an idea of the band and southwestern Michigan, the committee prepared a video tape of St. Joseph, including the band shell and a composite of band concerts with Howard's narration.
The band will also feature Chicago trumpet soloist William Camp, originally from Niles, performing "Musetta's Waltz," from the opera La Boheme by Giacomo Puccini, arranged by Rafael Mendez.
Camp earned music degrees from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and The University of Michigan. His principal instructors include Gene Young, Louis Davidson, Armando Ghitalla and Arnold Jacobs.
Camp has performed with the St. Joseph Municipal Band for 29 years, originally playing under Howard's direction in 1975. Camp has also appeared with the Chicago Sinfonietta, Chicago Pops Orchestra, Lake Forest Symphony, South Bend Symphony, Springfield Symphony, Northwest Indiana Symphony, Kenosha Symphony, American Ballet Theater Orchestra and the Westbind Brass.
His recording with the Dallas Winds and Chicago Chamber Brass, called "The Brass and the Band," has received national acclaim.
A Sousa march comes next with "Bonnie Annie Laurie March," which is followed by The Delores Shearer Dancers, who perform "Anything Goes," ""Hair Flair," "Steppin' Out" and The Delores Shearer Precision Dancers.
The Delores Shearer Dance Studio has been located in St. Joseph for 38 years. The studio offers professional dance training for children in ballet, pointe, tap and jazz.
The studio's instruction encourages performing opportunities for students at their schools and community activities and challenges their creativity with original choreography. The goal is to help each student achieve personal development with poise, grace and self-confidence. Many of her students have been Blossomtime queens and pursued successful careers in dance or entertainment.
The band continues with a Henry Mancini march, "The Great Waldo Pepper March," arranged by John Cacavas.
Featured next in the program is vocalist Michelle Bythrow singing "Ain't Misbehavin'," followed by "Somewhere Out There" by James Horner.
The former Sister Lakes resident grew up on the block where Howard lived, went on to study music at Indiana University, then toured with music missions across the United States, into Canada and finally to Greenland.
She married Brian Bythrow in 1991 and moved to California, where she began singing professionally with the Sacramento Opera Company.
Michelle sang in commercials, film, print work and studio back-up vocals.
Today she resides with her husband and three children (Christy Rose, Cody and Cora) in Park City, Utah.
Michelle started a jazz duo called Sage and performs for private parties and in local restaurants. She leads music at her church and writes original music for children and worship songs for church.
The concert concludes with William Latham's "Proud Heritage Concert March."
The band then sets the stage for the late-night big band concert beginning at 9 p.m.
The audience will hear Bythrow perform with the big band and the concert will feature many favorite tunes made famous in the big band era.
Band season continues with its normal double concerts at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 3, and double concerts again on July 4 featuring special patriotic tributes to those who have served our country.
Concerts continue on Sundays at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. on July 10, July 17, July 24, July 31, Aug. 7, Aug. 14, Aug. 21, Aug. 28 and Sept. 4. The season concludes on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5, with 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. shows.