The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
By Virginia Ross, The Quill
Burlington Civic Music's season finale last Tuesday began with the Burlington High School Jazz Band playing as the crowd assembled. They were terrific! Let's hope they play either their own concert in this venue or before another Civic Music event.
Brass-the sound is loud, thrilling and yes, exciting-that's brass and the Presidio Brass deserve all of these accolades. They burst on the stage energizing the audience with the Overture from Candide followed by the theme from Phantom of the Opera.
This is not a group sitting in chairs, but is constantly changing positions, adding humorous touches and yes, gaining the audience's favor by down home chatter.
All grew up playing in a school band and today give back by holding student concerts-in this case, for both high school and middle and elementary school. They want to excite students to enjoy music as this is a talent that continues for a lifetime.
The Presidio Brass is composed of Steve O'Connor, trumpet, who has played with many orchestras as well as chamber groups. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Music from Michigan State University and a Master's in Music from Cal State Long Beach.
Mike Frasier is a tubist, pianist and music educator in the Chicago area who currently maintains a private studio in Chicago where he teaches tuba, piano, and bass.
(During intermission Trudi Lefler asked if he knew Rex Martin who is originally from Stronghurst and is a internationally known tubist, and Mike said that is why he was in Chicago so he could study under Rex.).
Josh Bledsoe, trombone, is currently Artist-Faculty at the University of West Florida where he teaches trombone and euphonium. He received his Bachelors in Music Performance from Florida State University and his Masters and Doctorate from Arizona State University. Geoff Durbin is a professional trombonist and and euphoniumist who enjoys being a soloist, clinician and freelance musician in Memphis, TN. Geoff earned degrees from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the University of North Texas and a Doctorate from the University of Memphis.
Miles McAllister, trumpet, is based in Southern California as a performer and educator. He earned his Master of Music in Trumpet Performance at California State University Fullerton and a Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance at the University of Redlands. All have a solid educational background.
In talking with various audience members, all agreed how much they enjoyed hearing familiar songs and that is just what Presidio Brass played. A blend of Rogers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma and Sound of Music had us all singing along quietly just wishing we could belt out the lyrics. Shifting to Gershwin's American in Paris beginning with the sounds of a Paris street to the velvet, haunting, seductive wail of a trumpet, the piece had us all envisioning being on the Champs Elysees for a day.
After the intermission, the group trooped on a stage in casual attire signaling a change in pace which began with Bohemian Rhapsody. Send in the Clowns from A Little Night Music which featured a flugelhorn.. Selections from West Side Story and Chicago were met with loud applause resulting in the group adding Somewhere over the Rainbow from the Wizard of Oz.
Words are inadequate in describing this concert, but when the melodies haunt you for a day after the performance, you know it was an incredible event.