Fall 2010: James B. King Veterans Day Concert

The Gainesville Community Band Honors Our Nation’s Veterans
Friday, November 12, 7:30 p.m.
Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on the UF campus

Concert Program

• The Star Spangled Banner, by John S. Smith, arranged by Richard W. Bowles
• Tree City Fanfare, by Richard W. Bowles
• An American Salute, arranged by John Edmondson
• Lincoln Portrait, by Aaron Copland, arranged by Walter Beeler, Dr. John R. Grigsby, narrator
• The American Road, by Jerry Brubaker
• James B. King Clarinet Presentation
• Concertino, by Carl Maria von Weber, Bess de Farber, Clarinet
• A Leroy Anderson Portrait, by Leroy Anderson, arranged by James Barnes
• The Young Man With A Horn, by George Stoll, arranged by John Edmondson, Terry Moo, Trumpet
• Malaguena, by Ernesto Lecuona, arranged by Michael Sweeney, Terry Moo, Trumpet
• Armed Forces Salute, arranged by Bob Lowdon
• The Stars and Stripes Forever, by John Philip Sousa, arranged by William Revelli

Honoring

Veterans Day: Thursday, November 11 is the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I and was originally celebrated as Armistice Day. Raymond Weeks of Birmingham, Alabama, organized a Veterans Day parade for that city on November 11, 1947, to honor all of America’s veterans for their loyal service. Later, U.S. Representative Edward H. Rees of Kansas proposed legislation changing the name of the celebration to Veterans Day to honor all who have served in America’s Armed Forces. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day and called upon Americans everywhere to rededicate themselves to the cause of peace. The Gainesville Community Band performs this Veterans Day concert to honor all those who served honorably in the military—in wartime or peacetime.

James B King

James B. King: This concert is named in honor of Captain James B. King, late member of the Gainesville Community Band. Captain King served as principal clarinet and assistant conductor of the United States Marine Band, “The President’s Own,” under the administrations of Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson. After retiring in 1980, he and his wife Joy joined the Gainesville Community Band. Captain King died in October 2006, and each year the band presents this concert in memory of a great musician who served his country and was an inspiration to all. As a further remembrance of Captain King, a clarinet will be presented in his name to an outstanding Alachua County middle school band student. Great Southern Music in the Oaks Mall Plaza, 6787 West Newberry Road, has graciously donated the memorial clarinet.

Featuring:

Dr. John R. Grigsby, professor emeritus at the University of Florida, taught choral conducting and choral literature and, as UF’s Director of Choral Activities, was responsible for the University Choir, Chamber Singers, Men’s Glee Club and Women’s Chorale. He also served as Acting Director of the School of Music and Assistant Director of the School of Music. Dr. Grigsby studied at Ohio State University, Union Theological Seminary School of Sacred Music and Columbia University. He has directed festivals and adjudicated choral clinics throughout the United States and Canada and, for nine years, was Director of Choral Music and Associate Coordinator of Worship and Sacred Music at New York’s Chautauqua Institution. During retirement Dr. Grigsby and his wife, Gretchen, who taught elementary music at Stephen Foster and Norton, have been active in various volunteer pursuits including The Salvation Army, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Friends Across the Ages, and Holy Trinity Church.

Bess De Farber

Bess de Farber, clarinetist with the Gainesville Community Band, studied performance at the University of Southern California, where she was named the most outstanding clarinet graduate. She has performed extensively throughout Florida, both in person and on television. In 1996 she was commissioned to create Composing A Heart, a multimedia piece tracing her parents’ emigration to the U.S. This work has been performed on NPR and at such South Florida venues as the Caldwell Theatre, and the Jewish Museum of Florida. Ms. de Farber has also served on grant review panels for the Florida Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts and, for ten years, played bagpipe in the City of Dunedin Pipe Band.

Terry Moo

Terry Moo, trumpet player par excellence, has called the Gainesville area “home” since 1970. He has long been a friend to music and music educators and frequently appears in concert with various area bands. After thirty years in retail music service he sold his company and began his other passion, multimedia production. He usually has either a horn or a camera in his hands, or most likely a set of headphones on his head. He has recorded every middle and high school band in the area and makes concert videos when called. Because he does audio recording and video production (with concert quality sound) he has appropriately named his new company Soundview Multimedia. He is also active as a private trumpet tutor and helps his wife Anna with her shows on the children’s stage.

Dr. Gerald Poe is music director of the Gainesville Community Band. He earned his B.A. degree from Western State College in Colorado, M.M. Ed. from Florida State University and D.M.A. from the University of Colorado. Much in demand as clinician, conductor and performer, Dr. Poe is listed in Who’s Who in American Music, Who’s Who in American Universities and most recently in the 2004 edition of Marquis’s Who’s Who in America. Dr. Poe is active in Florida Music Educators, Music Educators National Conference, Florida Bandmasters Association, and the Association of Concert Bands.

The Gainesville Community Band, the premier adult concert band of North Central Florida, was founded in 1974. Four years later, the Gainesville City Commission passed a resolution designating the GCB as the Official Community Band of Gainesville. Eighty-some members from all walks of life currently play in the band, and its concerts have always been family-friendly with free admission.

The Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is located at 315 Hull Road on the University of Florida campus, with plenty of free parking.

Gainesville Community Band concerts are family friendly, and most are free. Unlike school groups, the Gainesville Community Band has no booster organization or “band parents group” to raise funds and underwrite activities. Band members buy their own uniforms. They pay annual band membership dues. Most play personal instruments in rehearsals and concerts. Many donate money over and above dues to keep the band going. Yet, costs of music arrangements, playing venues and other expenses continue to rise. After every concert, pleased audience members ask how to contribute, how to help sustain the band and its active playing schedule. The Gainesville Community Band is an IRS Sec. 501(c)(3) Not-for-Profit Charitable Organization, and all contributions are gratefully accepted. They are tax deductible, and they support North Florida’s premiere adult concert band. Send your check to Gainesville Community Band, PMB 183, P.O. Box 147050, Gainesville, FL 32614-7050. At contributions of $25 or more, please specify whether the band may list your name as a Patron in its concert program. For further information, see the GCB web site (www.gnvband.org) or contact the music director via email or at 352-472-7224.