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West Point Saxophones Tour Virginia Jazz Knights Celebrate African-American History Month and Feature Saxophonist David Liebman Saxophone Trio Tours Texas and Louisiana Northeast Regional Tuba/Euphonium Conference at West Point Jazz Knights Host Seventh Annual Jazz Workshop West Point Saxophonists Perform at Coast Guard Academy U.S.
Military Academy Band Concert Young Artists' Solo Competition Winners Perform Change of
Command Concert Bade Colonel Rotondi West Point Saxophones Tour Virginia
Members of the United States Military Academy Concert Band saxophone section and Colonel Thomas Rotondi, Jr. recently presented concerto performances and clinics in Virginia. Frank Garcia, Director of Bands at First Colonial High School, hosted Colonel Rotondi as well as Sergeant First Class Wayne Tice and Staff Sergeants Brian Broelmann and Chris Rettie as artists-in-residence February 10th-13th. Colonel Rotondi spent several hours working with the First Colonial High School Band on February 11th. Following this clinic, Sergeants Tice, Broelmann and Rettie worked with the First Colonial High School Saxophone Quartet. The students responded enthusiastically to both clinics. The West Point Saxophonists were joined by saxophonist Taimur Sullivan for two performances of Perry Goldstein's The Abundant Air: Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Band. The quartet performed with the Virginia Wind Symphony, under the direction of guest conductor Colonel Thomas Rotondi, Jr. The performances took place on February 12th and 13th at First Colonial High School and Jamestown High School respectively. The Virginia Wind Symphony performed the remainder of the program under the direction of its founder, Denis Zeisler, Director of Bands and Professor of Clarinet and Saxophone at Old Dominion University. Jazz Knights Celebrate African-American History Month and Feature Saxophonist David Liebman
On Friday, February 18th the Academy Band's Jazz Knights performed a concert in tribute to some of America's great African-American composers and musicians. The group also featured saxophonist extraordinaire David Liebman, performing on big-band arrangements and his own compositions. Influenced by saxophonist John Coltrane during the 1960s, Mr. Liebman's illustrious career has included performances with prominent African-American musicians Elvin Jones in the late '60s and Miles Davis from 1970-1974. Today, Mr. Liebman is highly respected as a saxophonist, music educator, jazz historian and composer.
African-American composers and musicians honored on this concert included Fats Waller, Thad Jones, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Ray Charles, John Coltrane and Miles Davis. Compositions from a wide range of styles and periods were performed, from Fats Waller's Black Bottom Stomp to John Coltrane's Giant Steps. SFC Laura Bradley sang rousing renditions of Georgia, in tribute to Ray Charles; and God Bless the Child, in tribute to Billie Holiday. David Liebman opened his portion of the concert with Piccadilly Lilly, an original that he composed during his years with Elvin Jones. He shared the spotlight with soloists from the Jazz Knights as they improvised over John Coltrane's Giant Steps and Miles Davis' Seven Steps to Heaven. Liebman's beautiful tenor saxophone tone and amazing cadenza skills were highlighted on an arrangement of Duke Ellington's In a Sentimental Mood. The program concluded with an exciting tenor saxophone duel between David Liebman and SSG David Loy Song on Liebman's Loft Dance. SFC Laura Bradley brought the house down with an encore performance of Duke Ellington's It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing! On Friday February 25th and Saturday February 26th, the United States Military Academy Jazz Knights devoted their time and talent to the annual 100th Night Show put on by the First Class Cadets of West Point. For one weekend each year, the Jazz Knights shift venues and become a pit orchestra accompanying the singing and dancing Cadets. The musical is a time-honored tradition at West Point, dating back to 1871. Since its inception, each year's graduating class has presented some sort of performance on its 100th night before graduation. The show itself is a humorous look at the life of a class of cadets throughout its four years at West Point. The show is written, staged, choreographed, performed and produced by the Cadets themselves. The music, however, is performed and arranged by members of the Jazz Knights and SFC Douglas Richard, the USMA Band's full-time arranger. SSG Bob Jones started planning and coordinating rehearsals almost a year ago and thanks to him, everything went smoothly. Saxophone Trio Tours Texas and Louisiana
In late February, the West Point Saxophone Trio traveled to Texas and Louisiana to present masterclasses and chamber recitals. Dr. Brian Utley, Assistant Professor of Saxophone, hosted the trio at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Dr. Griffin Campbell, Professor of Saxophone, was the trio's host at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Students at both universities were well prepared and enthusiastic about working with the visiting saxophonists. Pianists Dr. Ron Petti and Ms. Jan Grimes joined the soloists in performances at SFASU and LSU, respectively. Sergeant First Class Wayne Tice and Staff Sergeant Chris Rettie performed works for alto saxophone and piano. Sergeant First Class Tice performed Pulitzer Prize winning composer John Harbison's San Antonio while Staff Sergeant Rettie performed Alfred Desenclos' Prelude, Cadence et Finale, a staple of the saxophone repertoire. Staff Sergeant Brian Broelmann performed the unaccompanied tenor saxophone composition Hard by Christian Lauba. Staff Sergeant Rone Sparrow joined the group on marimba and Staff Sergeant Broelmann made his electric guitar debut for performances of Louis Andriessen's Hout, with Staff Sergeant Rettie on tenor saxophone. As the concerts closed, the hosting professor joined the group on soprano saxophone for quartet performances of Radiohead's Paranoid Android, arranged by Joseph Abramo. The United States Military Academy Jazz Knights took to the road this past February on their annual winter tour. The Jazz Knights visited schools in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana giving clinics and playing concerts throughout the eight day tour.
First on their stop was Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, PA. The Jazz Knights gave a full band clinic at the Slippery Rock Jazz Ensemble I rehearsal. Members of the Knights sat in each section giving pointers to the students as the rehearsal went on. Jazz Ensemble II also played for the Knights under the same format. That evening the Knights played for a standing room only crowd and were very well received.
Other colleges visited on the tour included Indiana State University, Ohio State University and Ohio University. Ohio State welcomed back alumnus SSG Bill Dunn who gave clinics and was featured several times in front of friends and family at the evening concert. During the day several Jazz Knights ventured onto campus to clinic both jazz ensembles which had concerts coming up the following week.
One of the highlights of the tour was visiting Terre Haute, Indiana, SGM Jim Perry's home town. SGM Perry gave clinics at the middle school and high school and was featured that night on the beautiful middle school stage. The concert was highly publicized throughout Terre Haute, in the newspapers and even on television. After playing for a near capacity crowd, the Jazz Knights were treated to cake and coffee afterwards. Though the eight days on the road were enjoyable and great music was made, the Jazz Knights are glad to be home at West Point with friends and family again.
On March 6, 2005, members of the Hellcats, under the direction of SGM LeeAnne Newton, presented a trumpet ensemble recital as a part of the United States Military Academy Band's Chamber Music Series. The recital program, developed by SFC Deric Milligan, contained modern literature from both the classical and jazz realms. The first selection on the program, Festival Fanfare, featured the entire Hellcat brass section. Performers included SGM Lee Anne Newton, MSG Clay Beard, SFC Deric Milligan, SSG Butch Barnard, SSG Jon Leonard, SSG John Manning, SSG Eric Miller and SSG Gino Villarreal. Eric Ewazen's Fantasia for Seven Trumpets followed. Composed for the Metropolitan Trumpet Ensemble in 1992, Fantasia, explored a wide array of colors and textures. The Hellcats then performed a gospel-like rendition of There's a Great Day Coming. Opening with one trumpet stating the melody, the piece featured all six performers in a solo section before concluding with a climatic "shout" section. After a very precise performance of Suite for Five Trumpets by Ronald Lo Presti, a unique William Schmidt selection followed. Entitled Variants with Solo Cadenzas, the piece required its four performers to rotate positions as each trumpeter played their solo in front of the ensemble. The trio, Fanfare for Saint Edmundsbury, was next on the program. The piece opened with each voice sounding their thematic material off-stage. Once each uniquely styled theme was played, the trio combined them to create an exciting cacophony resolving with a fanfare-like ending. The recital concluded with SSG Jon Leonard's arrangement of Manteca. Joined by MSG Eric Sheffler on drums, the selection featured a quasi-big band setup utilizing four trumpets and four flugelhorns (playing the role of trombones). The entire performance showcased the diverse abilities of the Hellcats and was a wonderful opportunity for the audience to hear the ensemble in a recital venue. Please refer to the Schedule page for information regarding future performances by the Hellcats. Northeast Regional Tuba/Euphonium Conference at West Point The United States Military Academy Band hosted the 2005 Northeast Regional Tuba/Euphonium Conference on March 18th and 19th. The conference featured solo and ensemble performances, master-classes and vendors. Exhibitors from around the northeast region, including portions of Canada, the Northeast United States and areas as far south as the capitol district, convened at Eisenhower Hall at West Point. Conference attendance included approximately 150 participants and spectators. Members of the Academy Band participated in a number of performances. Conference events opened on Friday, March 18th with a recital by the U.S. Military Academy Band's own Regimental Brass quintet. The ensemble consists of members of the U.S. Military Academy Concert Band, Master Sergeant Gregory Alley and Staff Sergeant Bryan Uhl on trumpets, Staff Sergeant Troy Messner on horn, Sergeant First Class Marty Tyce on trombone and Master Sergeant Gerald Cates on tuba. The quintet was joined by Staff Sergeant Barry Morrison on euphonium for one selection. Later in the day, Sergeant First Class Thomas Price performed selections for tuba and piano, with accompaniment by Dr. Ruthanne Schempf. The United States Military Academy Horn Quartet, comprised of Master Sergeant Harry Ditzel, Sergeant First Class Susan Davidson and Staff Sergeants Eric Kuper and Troy Messner performed Christer Danielsson's Konsertante Svit for tuba and four horns with Musician First Class Travis Siehndel, of the U.S. Naval Academy Band. Friday evening, the Imperial Brass performed a concert of brass band works under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel Torgny Hanson, the Inspector of Military Music in Sweden. This concert featured Master Sergeant Gerald Cates as tuba soloist on Leslie Condon's Celestial Morn. Meiso by John Golland featured Staff Sergeant Eric Kuper on tenor horn and Staff Sergeant Barry Morrison on baritone horn. Following intermission, Staff Sergeant Jason Ham took to the podium to conduct the ensemble through an arrangement of Richard Wagner's Introduction to Act III of Lohengrin. Soloists on the second half of the concert were Dr. Benjamin Pierce on euphonium and Dr. Charles Guy on tuba.
Saturday's events included a performance by the West Point Tuba Quartet. This ensemble consists of Master Sergeant Gerald Cates and Sergeant First Class Thomas Price on tubas and Staff Sergeants Jason Ham and Barry Morrison on euphoniums. The ensemble performed a full program of original compositions for tuba quartet as well as arrangements penned by members of the ensemble.
The grand concert event on Saturday evening featured the U.S. Military Academy Concert Band under the direction of Colonel Thomas Rotondi, Jr. and Captain Tod A. Addison. The band performed James Barnes' Fantasy Variations on a Theme by Niccolo Paganini before featuring a number of tuba and euphonium soloists in concerto performances. Mr. James Gourlay, head of wind and percussion at the Royal Northern College of Music, performed Joseph Horovitz's Concerto for Tuba. Captain Tod Addison conducted the band accompanying Dr. Ken Kroesche on euphonium in David Gillingham's Vintage. Following intermission, Staff Sergeants Jason Ham and Barry Morrison performed Softly, As I Leave You in an arrangement for two euphoniums and band by Staff Sergeant Morrison. This was followed by Mr. David Zerkel performing as soloist on Concertino for Tuba and Wind Instruments by Rolf Wilhelm. The final solo performance featured Staff Sergeant Jason Ham performing as soloist on Vladimir Cosma's Euphonium Concerto. All five soloists returned to the stage to close the concert, as well as the conference, with an unique encore arrangement of The Melody Shop. Jazz
Knights Host On March 29th high school students from New York and Pennsylvania attended the seventh annual West Point Jazz Workshop, hosted by the USMA Band's Jazz Knights.
This year members of the band worked with jazz ensembles from Moscow, Pennsylvania's North Pocono High School; Tower City, Pennsylvania's Williams Valley High School; and Kingston High School, out of Kingston, New York. The enthusiastic students from Williams Valley High School made a two-day trip of the event. Students worked with members of the Jazz Knights for the entire day, improving their ensemble performance and learning about jazz improvisation techniques. These 'jazz squires' began their day by listening to an inspiring performance by the Jazz Knights. Each band then presented a short concert for the other schools, followed by a coaching session that included all of the Jazz Knights. After a short lunch break a clinic on jazz improvisation was presented to all of the students, followed by clinics relevant to each instrument. At the end of the day, selected students were given the opportunity to perform with the Jazz Knights for their peers.
Students and band directors were highly enthusiastic and grateful to the Jazz Knights for providing them with a motivating day. According to North Pocono band director Frank Torquato, "I know that you helped each and every one of my students at every varying level of their ability. They are all excited about working and improving our ensemble. As I listened to their comments I found out that they were blown away by your talent. They were equally impressed with how nicely they were treated. They sensed that all of you had a true concern for their well being." Williams Valley band director Michelle Rautzahn wrote, "I would like to thank you for inviting my students to attend the Jazz Knights' clinic yesterday. It was a wonderful experience for all of us. I am always amazed at how much we learn as a result of spending just one day with the Jazz Knights. My students and I greatly appreciate your many long hours of hard work in organizing and hosting such an event." Having participated in this event before, she said that hearing and talking to members of the Jazz Knights inspires her students for the entire school year. Providing such opportunities for students may have long-term benefits for the Army. Undoubtedly, students return from this workshop with a positive opinion of military service. In the future, some of these students may be giving their own workshops to aspiring young musicians. West
Point Saxophonists On April 15th and 16th, members of the U.S. Military Academy Concert Band saxophone section attended the North American Saxophone Alliance Region Eight Conference. The event, featuring performances, lectures and master classes, was hosted by the U.S. Coast Guard Band and took place at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. Staff Sergeants Brian Broelmann and Chris Rettie represented the Academy Band, presenting performances on April 15th. They each performed compositions for alto saxophone with electronic tape accompaniment. Staff Sergeant Rettie performed Drew Krause's Airline and Staff Sergeant Broelmann performed Paul Steinberg's Sax Notes. Approximately 50 community members, composers and fellow saxophonists attended the performances. U.S.
Military Academy Band Concert The United States Military Academy Band under the direction of Colonel Thomas Rotondi, Jr. presented a concert of three world premiere works for soloist and concert band. The premieres included Perry Goldstein's Should This be Found: Six Songs on Scott's Last Expedition, Alex Freeman's Concerto for Bass Trombone, and Stephen R. Anderson's Concerto for Solo Percussion and Concert Band. The concert was on April 13th in the Eisenhower Hall Theater. Composer Perry Goldstein held a pre-concert lecture in the Class of 1929 Art Gallery, located on the 5th floor of Eisenhower Hall. In the lecture, he discussed the many perils Scott and his team faced on their ultimate expedition.
Should This be Found: Six Songs on Scott's Last Expedition is a deeply moving work for concert band with soprano soloist. In 1910, Robert Falcon Scott made his second expedition to Antarctica, determined to be the first man to reach the South Pole. A successful journey required an 800-mile trek to the Pole in temperatures sometimes approaching 50 degrees below zero, then, the arduous return. The five men who made the trek faced blizzards, fell in crevasses and experienced dehydration. When they arrived at the Pole, their hopes of being first were dashed upon discovering that Roald Amundsen and his Norwegian team had preceded them by thirty-three days. In the end, all members of Scott's expedition perished. Discovered with the bodies was Scott's journal, in which he wrote, "Send this diary to my wife." The word "wife" is crossed out and replaced with the word "widow." The text for the six songs was compiled from Scott's journals by renowned author, Richard Powers. Sergeant First Class Mary Kay Messenger sang the vocal solo with the band.
Stephen R. Anderson's Concerto for Solo Percussion and Concert Band was completed in 2005 for the U.S. Military Academy Band and percussion soloist Staff Sergeant Rone Sparrow. The piece draws heavily upon the jazz idiom. Stephen Anderson is an active jazz pianist as well as composer. Staff Sergeant Rone Sparrow is originally from Fairfield, California. He earned a Bachelors degree in percussion from Brigham Young University in 1997 and a Masters degree from The University of North Texas in 2000. Staff Sergeant Sparrow joined the U.S. Military Academy Band in August 2002 and has been featured with the band on steel pans, piano and mallet percussion. Mr. Stephen Anderson, piano, Staff Sergeant Rone Sparrow, drums and Master Sergeant Lou Pappas, double bass, presented a concert of jazz trio music on Tuesday, April 12th in the Academy Band's building, Egner Hall. The concert featured a mix of jazz standards and original compositions by Sergeant Sparrow and Mr. Anderson.
Alex Freeman composed his Concerto for Bass Trombone and Concert Band for the U.S. Military Academy Band and Staff Sergeant Matthew Wozniak. Staff Sergeant Matthew Wozniak, from Toledo, Ohio, has served as the bass trombonist of the Academy Band since November of 1997. He attended the Eastman School of Music, earning a Bachelor of Music in music theory, a Master of Music in performance and literature and a Master of Arts in music theory pedagogy. Young
Artists' Solo Competition On Sunday, May 8th in the Eisenhower Hall Ballroom at West Point, the U.S. Military Academy Concert Band presented a special concert, featuring the winners of the band's Young Artists' Solo Competition. Competition winners Alexandra Shatalov, Andrew Rooks and Kenneth Sickler performed for an appreciative audience.
Alexandra Shatalov was the first soloist, performing beautifully on Vincenzo Bellini's Concerto for Oboe. Ms. Shatalov is an accomplished musician, attending New Paltz High School. The second solo performance of the afternoon featured Kenneth Sickler, presenting an exceptional rendering of the first movement of Ralph Vaughn-Williams' Concerto for Bass Tuba. Mr. Sickler attends Kingston High School. The final student soloist of the afternoon was Andrew Rooks, presenting a stirring performance of Bruch's Concerto for Violin. Mr. Rooks is a student at Briarcliff Manor High School. This concert also served as the final performance of the band under the direction of the current deputy commander, Captain Tod Addison. CPT Addison will be leaving the band in the coming weeks to assume command at the U.S. Continental Army Band at Fort Monroe, Virginia. Sergeant Major Rick Gerard, U.S. Military Academy Band Sergeant Major, spoke respectfully on the subject of CPT Addison's departure and bade him a fond farewell on behalf of the members of the band. Change of Command Concert Bade Colonel Rotondi Farewell And Welcomed Major Holtan On Saturday, June 4th, the United States Military Academy Band presented a change of command concert at Eisenhower Hall Theatre. The concert featured the Academy Concert Band and Hellcats under the direction of Colonel Thomas Rotondi, Jr. and Major Timothy J. Holtan. The performance opened with selections directed by outgoing commander and conductor Colonel Rotondi. The band performed a beautiful rendition of Vladimir Cosma’s Euphonium Concerto, featuring the virtuosic stylings of soloist Staff Sergeant Jason Ham. The band’s field music group, the Hellcats, were featured on Paul Murtha’s The Hellcats, inspiring the audience with their exemplary musicianship and impressive stage presence. Sergeant First Class MaryKay Messenger performed as soloist with the band in Sergeant First Class Douglas Richard’s arrangement of songs from popular musicals entitled I Love Broadway. Colonel Rotondi’s final selection as the Academy Band’s commander and conductor was A Slavic Farewell, a fitting end to his portion of the program.
The change of command ceremony followed, officiated over by Lieutenant General William J. Lennox, Jr., West Point’s Superintendent. Band Sergeant Major Rick Gerard and Drum Major Master Sergeant Eric Sheffler participated in the ceremonial passing of the mace from outgoing commander Colonel Rotondi to incoming commander Major Holtan. General Lennox spoke eloquently on the importance of music to the Academy and the Army at large, commending Colonel Rotondi for his performance of duties while at the Academy. During this ceremony, Colonel Rotondi received the Legion of Merit in recognition of his work at the Academy. Major Holtan conducted the remainder of the works on the concert program. The first of performance was a surprise premiere of Farewell Salute written by Perry Goldstein and dedicated to Colonel Rotondi on the occasion of his departure from West Point. A beautiful rendering of Jacque Offenbach’s Overture to La Belle Helene followed. Major Holtan closed the concert with a powerful performance of The Official West Point March, performed by the combined forces of the Concert Band and Hellcats.
In June, the Hellcats, under the direction of Sgt. Major Lee Anne Newton, traveled to Fort Monroe, Virginia to perform with the United States Continental Army Band. As featured guests, the ensemble presented their show containing numerous patriotic selections. The group also augmented the U.S. Continental Army Band performing a series of marches, including Sousa’s Gallant Seventh and the Official West Point March. Additionally, Staff Sgts. John Manning, Eric Miller and Gino Villarreal were also showcased during a performance of Bugler’s Holiday. The Hellcats "Music Under the Stars" appearance at Fort Monroe was a part of the United States Army's Birthday Celebration.
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