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Sounds
from the Hudson Volume 13, Issue 2 COL Thomas Rotondi, Jr. - Commander
NEW
FEATURE U.S.
Military Academy Band Change of Command Saxophonist Dave Leibman performs with Jazz Knights Northeast Regional Tuba/Euphonium Conference at West Point Concert Band Performs Three World Premieres on April 13th
U.S. Military Academy Band Change of Command June 4th, 2005, Eisenhower Hall Theatre Command of the U.S. Military Academy Band will change hands in a ceremonial concert to be held on Saturday, June 4th, at 7:30 p.m. in the Eisenhower Hall Theatre at West Point. The performance will begin with a number of selections to be performed by the Concert Band under the direction of the current Commander and Conductor Col. Thomas Rotondi, Jr. Following his portion of the concert, a ceremony will take place, officiated by Lt. Gen. William J. Lennox, Jr., Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy. In this ceremony, command of the Academy Band will be passed from Col. Rotondi to Maj. Timothy J. Holtan. Maj. Holtan will then complete the concert with Offenbach's Overture to La Belle Helene and Egner's The Official West Point March.
The U.S. Military Academy Band members bid a fond farewell to Col. Rotondi and wish him well as leader of the U.S. Army Band, "Pershing's Own." The Academy Band welcomes Maj. Holtan and looks forward to his time as the new Commander and Conductor. Saxophonist Dave Leibman performs with Jazz Knights
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 his own big-band arrangements and 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.
On March 6th, members of the Hellcats, under the direction of Sgt. Maj. Lee Anne Newton, presented a trumpet ensemble recital as a part of the U.S. Military Academy Band's Chamber Music Series. Musical selections included Festival Fanfare by Joseph Turrin, Eric Ewazen's Fantasia for Seven Trumpets, Suite for Five Trumpets by Ronald Lo Presti as well as William Schmidt's Variants with Solo Cadenzas. In addition to performing Terry Everson's arrangement of There's a Great Day Coming, the ensemble also featured Staff Sgt. Jon Leonard's arrangement of Manteca. 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.
Beginning on June 12th, the Academy Band will present its popular "Music Under the Stars" concert series at West Point's beautiful Trophy Point Amphitheatre. Magnificent views of the Hudson River will compliment an exciting lineup of programs and guest musicians this summer. The concert on June 12th, themed "A Call to Duty," will begin with an Army Birthday Ceremony at 7:00 p.m. On June 19th at 7:30 p.m. the Jazz Knights welcome multi-instrumentalist Scott Robinson (above left) to the stage to perform on instruments ranging from flugelhorn to bass saxophone. On August 21st, world-renowned trumpeter Randy Brecker (above right) will play with the Jazz Knights. Other highlights of the series include an Independence Day Concert at 8:00 p.m. on July 3rd and a tribute to Glenn Miller on July 17th at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, September 3rd at 6:00 p.m. the annual "1812 Overture" Concert will wrap up the series. Please check our schedule for a complete list of concert dates and times. Call 845-938-2617 for up to date information on Academy Band events.
The United States Military Academy Band bids farewell this year to Capt. Tod Addison (above left). Capt. Addison served as Deputy Commander and Associate Conductor of the United States Military Academy Band since August of 2001. Originally from Mansfield, Ohio, Capt. Addison attended Ashland University before graduating with a Bachelor of Music Education from Ohio State University. Attending West Texas State University and East Carolina University, he received a Master of Music in clarinet performance. Addison taught public school music for seven years in North Carolina. He joined the United States Army as a clarinet player in 1995 and was assigned to the 399th Army Band at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. After completing Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned as the Executive Officer at Student Company, U.S. Army Element School of Music. Before arriving at West Point he served as Executive Officer for the U.S. Continental Army Band at Fort Monroe, Virginia. While serving at West Point, Addison was a major creative force behind new commissions as well as performances of existing contemporary and progressive works for concert band. He also initiated and sustained the working relationship between the Concert Band and the Magic Circle Mime Company which performed for dozens of area schools at the band's annual Young Peoples' Concerts in 2003 and 2004. Capt. Addison will serve as Commanding Officer at the U.S. Continental Army Band in Fort Monroe, Virginia. The band welcomes Capt. Treg Ancelet (above right) as Deputy Commander and Associate Conductor of the U.S. Military Academy Band from Fort Monroe where he served as Executive Officer of the U.S. Continental Army Band. Originally from Houma, Louisiana, he attended Northwestern State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education. After teaching high school for five years, Capt. Ancelet studied with Prof. Anthony Maiello at George Mason University and graduated with a Master of Arts in instrumental conducting. Ancelet began his career teaching public school music at Leesville High School in Leesville, Louisiana. He also taught at Northwestern State University at Fort Polk, Louisiana. After basic training, he attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Prior to serving at Fort Monroe, he was the Executive Officer at Student Company, U.S. Army Element School of Music.
Northeast Regional Tuba/Euphonium Conference at West Point
Concert Band Performs Three World Premieres on April 13th The U.S. Military Academy Concert Band presented three world premiere works for soloist and concert band. Staff Sgts. Rone Sparrow and Matthew Wozniak each worked with two exceptional young composers to create the new solo compositions. Staff Sgt. Sparrow premiered Stephen R. Anderson's Concerto for Solo Percussion and Concert Band. In the work, Staff Sgt. Sparrow's talents on marimba and drum set were highlighted. Adding to the repertoire of the bass trombone, Alex Freeman composed his Concerto for Bass Trombone and Concert Band for Staff Sgt. Wozniak and the Concert Band. Perry Goldstein's Should This be Found: Six Songs on Scott's Last Expedition is a deeply moving work based on Robert Falcon Scott's 1910 expedition to Antarctica. Scott's dream to be the first to reach the South Pole was dashed by Roald Amundsen and his Norwegian team, who had preceded them by thirty-three days. In the end, all members of Scott's expedition perished. The text for the six songs was compiled from Scott's journals by renowned author, Richard Powers. Sgt. 1st Class MaryKay Messenger rendered the vocal solo for the premiere event.
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Col. Rotondi
(left) assumed command of the U.S.
Military Academy Band in June 2002. His previous assignments include
Commander, Enlisted Student Company, and Director of Evaluation and
Standardization, Armed Forces School of Music, Norfolk, Virginia;
Executive Officer, United States Continental Army Band, Fort Monroe,
Virginia; Staff Bands Officer, Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Georgia;
Commander/ Conductor, U.S. Continental Army Band, Fort Monroe, Virginia;
Deputy Commander, U.S. Military Academy Band, West Point, New York; and
Commander/ Conductor, U.S. Army, Europe, Band and Chorus, Heidelberg,
Germany. Col. Rotondi is now headed to Washington, D.C. where he
will serve as the Commander of the U.S. Army Band, "Pershing's
Own."
Maj. Holtan's
(left) assignment prior to arriving
at the Academy Band was Deputy Commander of the U.S. Army Field
Band. He recently departed the position as Department of the Army
Staff Bands Officer, where he administered 105 Army Bands. Maj.
Holtan's other assignments include duty as Commander and Conductor of the
U.S. Continental Army Band, Fort Monroe, Virginia; and as Executive
Officer of the U.S. Army Band, "Pershing's Own," Washington,
D.C., where he also served in overlapping capacities as Director and
Officer-In-Charge of the Ceremonial Band, the Brass Band, the Chorale and
the Chorus.
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 Jazz Knights worked with jazz ensembles from North Pocono High
School, Moscow, Pennsylvania; Williams Valley High School, Tower City,
Pennsylvania; and Kingston High School, Kingston, New York. Students
spent the entire day with the Jazz Knights improving their ensemble
performance and learning about jazz improvisation techniques.
Williams Valley band director Michelle Rautzahn wrote, "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."
Staff Sgt. Gino Villarreal, from Rio
Grande City, Texas, joined the Hellcats in November of 2002. Staff
Sgt. Villarreal performed Hellcat duties on bugle, substituted frequently
with the Concert Band on trumpet, is a founding member of the Storm King
Brass Quintet and has worked in the band's recruiting office. Gino
Villarreal will leave West Point to join the United States Coast Guard
Band in New London, Connecticut.
Staff Sgt. Katherine Wilcox, oboe
and English horn, is leaving the U.S. Military Academy Band in September
of 2005. After receiving a Bachelor of Music Performance from the
Eastman School of Music in 2002, Staff Sgt. Wilcox joined the Academy
Band. In addition to performing in the Concert Band, Staff Sgt.
Wilcox assisted in the arranging office and performed with the West Point
Woodwind Quintet. Katherine will continue her graduate studies at
Yale University.
Staff Sgt. Eric Kuper, horn, came to
the Concert Band in December of 2003 after completing both a Bachelor of
Music and Master of Music in Horn Performance at the University of
Michigan at Ann Arbor. While at West Point, Staff Sgt. Kuper played
with the Concert Band, as well as the Hudson Horns Quartet, the West Point
Woodwind Quintet and the Storm King Brass Quintet. Eric is looking
forward to moving to Baltimore, Maryland, to pursue freelance performance
and college teaching opportunities.
Sgt. Maj. Jim Perry, Jazz Knights
group leader and lead alto saxophonist, retires after thirty-three years
of military service. Sgt. Maj. Perry came to the West Point Jazz
Knights in 1986 and served for nineteen years. During that time he
was head arranger for the Jazz Knights, saxophone section leader and group
leader. Sgt. Maj. Perry is a native of Terre Haute, Indiana, but
came to the East coast to earn his Bachelor of Music Education from the
Berklee College of Music. While at Berklee, Sgt. Maj. Perry studied
saxophone with Joe Viola and Charlie Mariano. Besides being a
saxophonist, Sgt. Maj. Perry is also an accomplished arranger and
composer. Herb Pomeroy and Phil Wilson are two of Sgt. Maj. Perry's
most influential arranging teachers. He has had six of his original
compositions for jazz ensemble published, in addition to twelve works for
saxophone quintet. In 2002, Sgt. Maj. Perry won the American Music
Armed Forces Composition Competition for one of his big band
compositions. Life after West Point for Sgt. Maj. Perry will include
freelance performance, arranging and teaching in the Hudson Valley.
Master Sgt. Alan Reese is a native
of Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Enlisting in the Army in 1984, Master
Sgt. Reese first served at the 1st U.S. Army Band at Ft. Meade,
Maryland. In 1986 he went to the U.S. Continental Army Band at Ft.
Monroe, Virginia, where he served as a trumpet player and supply clerk,
until his arrival at West Point in 1995. In Master Sgt. Reese's ten
years with the Academy Band, he performed as a bugler with the Hellcats
and later became the band's Supply Noncommissioned Officer. Upon
retirement, Master Sgt. Reese plans to relocate to Norfolk, Virginia, with
his wife Lois, where he will be singing with the Virginia Opera Chorus and
continuing his work as a church musician.
Sgt. 1st Class Lori Salimando-Porter,
a native of Chazy, New York, joined the Academy Band in January of
1996. She will be retiring in September, having held the position of
principal trombonist with the Academy Band for nearly ten years.
Prior to joining the band, Sgt. 1st Class Salimando-Porter performed with
the Maryland Symphony, Kennedy Center Opera Orchestra, Colorado Springs
Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, the U.S. Naval Academy Band and the El Toro
Marine Band. She received her Bachelor of Music from the Eastman
School of Music in Rochester, New York, and received her Master of Music
from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Sgt. 1st
Class Salimando-Porter will be retiring in the Hudson Valley with her
husband Joe.
Staff Sgt. Alex Frederick came to
the Academy Band, in February of 2005, from the Los Angeles area.
Before arriving at the band, Alex was the first call substitute for the
Los Angeles Philharmonic from 2001 to 2004. During that time, he
played under Pierre Boulez, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Zubin Mehta, John Williams,
Michael Tilson Thomas and many other prominent conductors. Staff
Sgt. Frederick performed in the opening concert of the revolutionary Walt
Disney Concert Hall, which was broadcast nationally on PBS. In 2000,
Alex taught Business English at the Deutsche Verkehrsbank in Frankfurt,
Germany. From 1994 to 1999, Staff Sgt. Frederick served as a
percussionist with the Cleveland Chamber Symphony. Prior to his tenure
there, he performed as a percussionist with the West Virginia Symphony.
A native of Mansfield, Ohio, Staff Sgt.
Denver Dill joined the Academy Concert Band trumpet section earlier
this year. Prior to joining the band, Staff Sgt. Dill was a doctoral
candidate at the Eastman School of Music. He holds a Master of Music
from the Juilliard School and a Bachelor of Music Merchandising from
Eastern Kentucky University. Staff Sgt. Dill won prizes in several
competitions, including the 2000 Maurice Andre International Trumpet
Competition (France), 2002 Tromp Musik Biennale International Trumpet
Competition (Netherlands) and the 2001-2003 National Trumpet Competition
(U.S.A.). As a member of the duo Equinox, Denver has toured
throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.
Staff Sgt. Myra Fishburn, of Bowling
Green, Kentucky, joined the Academy Band in March of 2005 as the unit's
Supply Noncommissioned Officer. Myra's previous military service
since joining the Army in 1994 includes duty with the 8th United States
Army Band, 10th Mountain Division Band, 113th Army Band, 76th Army Band
and the 62nd Army Band. Myra attended Western Kentucky University
where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in music. She is a member of the
International Horn Society and the Delta Omicron Professional Music
Fraternity.
The U.S. 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. Highlights of the event included performances by many U.S.
Military Academy Band brass ensembles, and the Imperial Brass under the
direction of Lt. Col. Torgny Hanson, the Inspector of Military Music in
Sweden. The grand concert event featured Mr. James Gourlay on tuba,
Dr. Ken Kroesche on euphonium, Mr. David Zerkel on tuba and Staff Sgts.
Jason Ham and Barry Morrison on euphonium.
