2006 John Philip Sousa National Junior Honor Bands - New England Region
Harvard & Westminster, MA
FAST FACTS:
Dates: April 20-22, 2006
Host/Rehearsal Location: The Bromfield School, 14 Massachusetts Avenue, Harvard, MA 01451
Concert Location: Stratos G. Dukakis Memorial Auditorium, Montachusett Reg. Voc. Tech. High School, Fitchburg/Westminster, MA
Festival Hotel: Holiday Inn Boxborough Woods, 242 Adams Place, Boxborough, MA 01719
Conductors:
Mr. Richard Vars - Junior Honors Red Band
Dr. Steven Grimo - Junior Honors Blue Band
Composer in Residence: Dr. Joseph T. Spaniola
Dates: April 20-22, 2006
Host/Rehearsal Location: The Bromfield School, 14 Massachusetts Avenue, Harvard, MA 01451
Concert Location: Stratos G. Dukakis Memorial Auditorium, Montachusett Reg. Voc. Tech. High School, Fitchburg/Westminster, MA
Festival Hotel: Holiday Inn Boxborough Woods, 242 Adams Place, Boxborough, MA 01719
Conductors:
Mr. Richard Vars - Junior Honors Red Band
Dr. Steven Grimo - Junior Honors Blue Band
Composer in Residence: Dr. Joseph T. Spaniola
CONCERT PROGRAM:
Junior Honors Red Band
“Of Kindred Sprit” - Robert Sheldon
“All The Pretty Little Horses - Ann McGinty
“Ivanhoe (A Medieval Legend)” - Elliot delBorgo
“The Dream Catcher” - W. Francis McBeth
“His Honor” - Henry Fillmore/arr. Andrew Balent
** “Whimsical Lane” - Joseph Spaniola
Junior Honors Blue Band
“Canticle” - Bruce Pearson
“Aztec Fire” - Jay Bocook
“Symphonic Overture” - Charles Carter
“Echoes of Time” - Bruce Pearson
** “Serendipity” - Joseph Spaniola
“Sousa Portrait” - John Philip Sousa/arr. Robert E. Foster
“United We Stand” - John O’Reilly
** Commissioned by the 2006 John Philip Sousa National Junior Honor Bands – New England: World Premiere Performance
Junior Honors Red Band
“Of Kindred Sprit” - Robert Sheldon
“All The Pretty Little Horses - Ann McGinty
“Ivanhoe (A Medieval Legend)” - Elliot delBorgo
“The Dream Catcher” - W. Francis McBeth
“His Honor” - Henry Fillmore/arr. Andrew Balent
** “Whimsical Lane” - Joseph Spaniola
Junior Honors Blue Band
“Canticle” - Bruce Pearson
“Aztec Fire” - Jay Bocook
“Symphonic Overture” - Charles Carter
“Echoes of Time” - Bruce Pearson
** “Serendipity” - Joseph Spaniola
“Sousa Portrait” - John Philip Sousa/arr. Robert E. Foster
“United We Stand” - John O’Reilly
** Commissioned by the 2006 John Philip Sousa National Junior Honor Bands – New England: World Premiere Performance

CONDUCTOR / COMPOSER BIOS:
Mr. Richard Vars
Richard Vars is presently Director of Bands at East Providence High School in East Providence, Rhode Island. Previously, he has served as Director of Bands and Music Coordinator at Tiverton High School in Tiverton, Rhode Island, instructor of instrumental music at Martin Junior High School in East Providence, Rhode Island, the Archdiocese of Rockville Center Schools on Long Island, NY, Middletown Public Schools in Middletown, Rhode Island and as Supervisor of Music for the Warren, RI, Public School Systems.
Mr. Vars is an alumnus of Rhode Island College where he earned both his Bachelors and Master degrees in Music Education. He has participated in summer sessions at Central Connecticut State University, Rutgers University and Plymouth State College in New Hampshire. Mr. Vars has been a guest conductor in Regional, District, and Honors Festivals in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Virginia. He has also served as guest lecturer and clinician at the Eastern Division Conference in Baltimore, Maryland.
Mr. Vars holds professional memberships in the Music Educators National Conference, Rhode Island Music Educators Association, and International Association for Jazz Education, National Band Association, and the Percussive Arts Society. Mr. Vars is a Past President of the Rhode Island Music Educators Association and has served on the RIMEA Executive Board. Mr. Vars performs as a free-lance percussionist throughout in Rhode Island area.
Mr. Richard Vars
Richard Vars is presently Director of Bands at East Providence High School in East Providence, Rhode Island. Previously, he has served as Director of Bands and Music Coordinator at Tiverton High School in Tiverton, Rhode Island, instructor of instrumental music at Martin Junior High School in East Providence, Rhode Island, the Archdiocese of Rockville Center Schools on Long Island, NY, Middletown Public Schools in Middletown, Rhode Island and as Supervisor of Music for the Warren, RI, Public School Systems.
Mr. Vars is an alumnus of Rhode Island College where he earned both his Bachelors and Master degrees in Music Education. He has participated in summer sessions at Central Connecticut State University, Rutgers University and Plymouth State College in New Hampshire. Mr. Vars has been a guest conductor in Regional, District, and Honors Festivals in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Virginia. He has also served as guest lecturer and clinician at the Eastern Division Conference in Baltimore, Maryland.
Mr. Vars holds professional memberships in the Music Educators National Conference, Rhode Island Music Educators Association, and International Association for Jazz Education, National Band Association, and the Percussive Arts Society. Mr. Vars is a Past President of the Rhode Island Music Educators Association and has served on the RIMEA Executive Board. Mr. Vars performs as a free-lance percussionist throughout in Rhode Island area.

Dr. Steven Grimo
Steven Grimo, an officer in the United States Air Force, entered the Air Force in January, 1986, after a successful teaching career in New England. He is presently a Lieutenant Colonel serving for the USAF Bands and Music Branch as a Band Commander for the United States Air Force Academy Band of Mid-America, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. He is also an active Minister of Music for the Church of the Nazarene.
Dr. Grimo is a native of Bristol, Rhode Island. He began his career in music as a percussionist, attending the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Percussion Performance. Upon graduation, Steve began his teaching career as an elementary and junior high school band director for the Newton, Massachusetts public schools. He later became Director of Instrumental Music at Wachusett Regional High School in Holden, Massachusetts, where he received the National Band Association's Citation of Excellence, and the Stanbury Award of the American School Band Directors Association.
Steven Grimo received his Master of Music degree in Wind Ensemble Conducting from the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Frank Battisti. He was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. in May of 1992. He has numerous published works to his credit and is a nationally active guest conductor and clinician. He has conducted throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, South America and Australia. His service as an USAF Band Officer has taken him to Washington DC, Texas, Alaska, Illinois and throughout the Pacific. Steve, his wife Lisa, and their children, Michael, Jonathan, and Jennifer, reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Steven Grimo, an officer in the United States Air Force, entered the Air Force in January, 1986, after a successful teaching career in New England. He is presently a Lieutenant Colonel serving for the USAF Bands and Music Branch as a Band Commander for the United States Air Force Academy Band of Mid-America, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. He is also an active Minister of Music for the Church of the Nazarene.
Dr. Grimo is a native of Bristol, Rhode Island. He began his career in music as a percussionist, attending the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Percussion Performance. Upon graduation, Steve began his teaching career as an elementary and junior high school band director for the Newton, Massachusetts public schools. He later became Director of Instrumental Music at Wachusett Regional High School in Holden, Massachusetts, where he received the National Band Association's Citation of Excellence, and the Stanbury Award of the American School Band Directors Association.
Steven Grimo received his Master of Music degree in Wind Ensemble Conducting from the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Frank Battisti. He was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. in May of 1992. He has numerous published works to his credit and is a nationally active guest conductor and clinician. He has conducted throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, South America and Australia. His service as an USAF Band Officer has taken him to Washington DC, Texas, Alaska, Illinois and throughout the Pacific. Steve, his wife Lisa, and their children, Michael, Jonathan, and Jennifer, reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Dr. Joseph T. Spaniola
Joseph T. Spaniola (b. May 7, 1963) is a composer on a passionate quest to engage the hearts and minds of audiences and performers through the communicative powers of music.
Dr. Spaniola has composed works for band, orchestra, chamber ensembles, solo instruments, voice, choir, and electronic tape. His ESCAPADE (2001) for wind ensemble won the 2001 National Band Association/William Revelli Memorial Composition Competition. Compositions by the composer have been performed in concert halls in the United States, Europe and Japan. His works have been premiered or presented at conferences and festivals hosted by The College Music Society, The International Trumpet Guild, The American Bandmasters Association, The International Trombone Association, The International Clarinet Association, The Midwest Clinic, The Bowling Green State University New Music and Art Festival, The Tuba/Euphonium Conference and others. Works by the composer are available through Musica Propria, Kagarice Brass Editions, Tuba Euphonium Press and directly from the composer.
Joseph T. Spaniola is the Chief Composer/Arranger for The United States Air Force Academy Band (Colorado Springs, CO) and is the Non Commissioned Officer in Charge of Music Production and Recording. The composer is active as a clinician, adjudicator and guest lecturer. Dr. Spaniola was a featured composer, conductor and lecturer at the Royal Conservatory’s 1998 Wind Symposium (Gent, Belgium). He offers private Composition/Theory and Low Brass instruction, and has been a staff member of the Great Lake Music Camp at Valparaiso University.
Dr. Spaniola is the former Chairman of the Composers Forum at UNT, a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lambda, BMI, The College Music Society, the Audio Engineers Society and a former member of Wisconsin School Music Association. He is a founding member and the past Executive Director of the ALL THE ARTS Festival (music, dance, theater, poetry, film, story telling, visual art and multi media works) in Denton, Texas. Dr. Spaniola was the recipient of the 1995 Rockford (Illinois) Area Music Industry (RAMI) Award for Best Classical Composer. Dr. Spaniola is active as an arranger. The Rockford Symphony Orchestra (Illinois), the North Shore Concert Band and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet are a few examples of the organizations that have enlisted his services. He has arranged music for trombonist, Bill Watrous, Broadway and television performer, Constance Towers, Rock Guitarist/Songwriter Rick Nielsen (of Cheap Trick), Michigan State University, the University of Arizona, the University of North Texas, the George Washington University and other artists and institutions across the United States and Japan. Periodically, Dr. Spaniola composes, orchestrates and arranges for commercial music projects (trade shows, industrial videos, documentary films, etc.) for corporations and organizations like Buick, Du Pont, and the White House Historical Association. He was the Composer/Arranger for the 1997 Lone Star Film and Television Awards (Dallas, TX) and was a member of the music team for the Chrysler Corporation’s 1993 World Wide Automotive Announcement Show in Las Vegas that featured performances by Frank Sinatra, Kenny Rogers, Wayne Newton, The McGuire Sisters and Vic Damone.
Joseph T. Spaniola received his Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition from the University of North Texas where he studied composition with Cindy McTee. At UNT he also studied composition with Larry Austin and jazz composition/arranging with Paris Rutherford. He received his Master of Music in Composition, and his Bachelor of Music in Theory and Composition from Michigan State University where he studied composition with Jere Hutcheson, Charles Ruggiero and James Niblock. He also studied composition with Sam Headrick at Boston University.
Joseph T. Spaniola (b. May 7, 1963) is a composer on a passionate quest to engage the hearts and minds of audiences and performers through the communicative powers of music.
Dr. Spaniola has composed works for band, orchestra, chamber ensembles, solo instruments, voice, choir, and electronic tape. His ESCAPADE (2001) for wind ensemble won the 2001 National Band Association/William Revelli Memorial Composition Competition. Compositions by the composer have been performed in concert halls in the United States, Europe and Japan. His works have been premiered or presented at conferences and festivals hosted by The College Music Society, The International Trumpet Guild, The American Bandmasters Association, The International Trombone Association, The International Clarinet Association, The Midwest Clinic, The Bowling Green State University New Music and Art Festival, The Tuba/Euphonium Conference and others. Works by the composer are available through Musica Propria, Kagarice Brass Editions, Tuba Euphonium Press and directly from the composer.
Joseph T. Spaniola is the Chief Composer/Arranger for The United States Air Force Academy Band (Colorado Springs, CO) and is the Non Commissioned Officer in Charge of Music Production and Recording. The composer is active as a clinician, adjudicator and guest lecturer. Dr. Spaniola was a featured composer, conductor and lecturer at the Royal Conservatory’s 1998 Wind Symposium (Gent, Belgium). He offers private Composition/Theory and Low Brass instruction, and has been a staff member of the Great Lake Music Camp at Valparaiso University.
Dr. Spaniola is the former Chairman of the Composers Forum at UNT, a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lambda, BMI, The College Music Society, the Audio Engineers Society and a former member of Wisconsin School Music Association. He is a founding member and the past Executive Director of the ALL THE ARTS Festival (music, dance, theater, poetry, film, story telling, visual art and multi media works) in Denton, Texas. Dr. Spaniola was the recipient of the 1995 Rockford (Illinois) Area Music Industry (RAMI) Award for Best Classical Composer. Dr. Spaniola is active as an arranger. The Rockford Symphony Orchestra (Illinois), the North Shore Concert Band and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet are a few examples of the organizations that have enlisted his services. He has arranged music for trombonist, Bill Watrous, Broadway and television performer, Constance Towers, Rock Guitarist/Songwriter Rick Nielsen (of Cheap Trick), Michigan State University, the University of Arizona, the University of North Texas, the George Washington University and other artists and institutions across the United States and Japan. Periodically, Dr. Spaniola composes, orchestrates and arranges for commercial music projects (trade shows, industrial videos, documentary films, etc.) for corporations and organizations like Buick, Du Pont, and the White House Historical Association. He was the Composer/Arranger for the 1997 Lone Star Film and Television Awards (Dallas, TX) and was a member of the music team for the Chrysler Corporation’s 1993 World Wide Automotive Announcement Show in Las Vegas that featured performances by Frank Sinatra, Kenny Rogers, Wayne Newton, The McGuire Sisters and Vic Damone.
Joseph T. Spaniola received his Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition from the University of North Texas where he studied composition with Cindy McTee. At UNT he also studied composition with Larry Austin and jazz composition/arranging with Paris Rutherford. He received his Master of Music in Composition, and his Bachelor of Music in Theory and Composition from Michigan State University where he studied composition with Jere Hutcheson, Charles Ruggiero and James Niblock. He also studied composition with Sam Headrick at Boston University.
FULL CONCERT PROGRAM:
For a copy of the complete concert program, including a list of participating schools, click here.
For a copy of the complete concert program, including a list of participating schools, click here.
PICTURES & AUDIO CLIPS:
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