2009 John Philip Sousa National Honor Bands - New England Region
Harvard & Westminster, MA
FAST FACTS:
Dates: April 23-25, 2009
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:
Ms. Pamela Potter - Junior Blue Cadet Honors Band
Ms. Linda J. Gammon - Junior Red Cadet Honors Band
Dr. Steven Grimo - Senior Honors Concert Band
Capt. Lewis J. Buckley - Senior Honors Symphonic Band
Dates: April 23-25, 2009
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:
Ms. Pamela Potter - Junior Blue Cadet Honors Band
Ms. Linda J. Gammon - Junior Red Cadet Honors Band
Dr. Steven Grimo - Senior Honors Concert Band
Capt. Lewis J. Buckley - Senior Honors Symphonic Band
CONCERT PROGRAM:
Junior Blue Cadet Honors Band
“A Lincoln Celebration” - Timothy Johnson
“Under the Southern Cross” - Jerry Nowak
“The Red River Valley” - Pierre LaPlante
“Amber Waves of Grain” - James Curnow
Junior Red Cadet Honors Band
“Heritage March” - Steve Hodges
“Nathan Hale Trilogy” - James Curnow
“A Walk with McCarley” - Van Ragsdale
“Kronos” - Robert W. Smith
“Ashford Celebration” - Ralph Ford
Senior Honors Concert Band
Canticle: A fantasia based on “All Creatures of Our God and King” - Bruce Pearson
“Excerpts from ‘The Lord of the Rings’ - Johan DeMeij/arr. Paul Lavender
“Hymn to the Fallen” - John Williams/arr. Michael Sweeney
“Spirit of Flight” - John O’Reilly
“Manhattan Beach March” - John Philip Sousa
Senior Honors Symphonic Band
“Second Suite in F for Military Band” - Gustav Holst
“Four Colonial Country Dances” - James Curnow
“Con Sabor Español” - Lewis J. Buckley
Junior Blue Cadet Honors Band
“A Lincoln Celebration” - Timothy Johnson
“Under the Southern Cross” - Jerry Nowak
“The Red River Valley” - Pierre LaPlante
“Amber Waves of Grain” - James Curnow
Junior Red Cadet Honors Band
“Heritage March” - Steve Hodges
“Nathan Hale Trilogy” - James Curnow
“A Walk with McCarley” - Van Ragsdale
“Kronos” - Robert W. Smith
“Ashford Celebration” - Ralph Ford
Senior Honors Concert Band
Canticle: A fantasia based on “All Creatures of Our God and King” - Bruce Pearson
“Excerpts from ‘The Lord of the Rings’ - Johan DeMeij/arr. Paul Lavender
“Hymn to the Fallen” - John Williams/arr. Michael Sweeney
“Spirit of Flight” - John O’Reilly
“Manhattan Beach March” - John Philip Sousa
Senior Honors Symphonic Band
“Second Suite in F for Military Band” - Gustav Holst
“Four Colonial Country Dances” - James Curnow
“Con Sabor Español” - Lewis J. Buckley
CONDUCTOR BIOS:
Ms. Pamela Potter
Pamela Potter was named Music Director and Conductor of the Quincy Park Band in 1993, the second director in the band's 60- year history. Under her leadership, the Park Band has received numerous grants and was awarded the 1998 City of Quincy Arts Organization Award for having made a substantial impact on the cultural development of the community. The Park Band was selected to perform for President Clinton on his visit to Quincy in January of 2000. In June of 2004, the band performed at the World War II Memorial and the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. and hosted the Association of Concert Bands National Convention in 2005.
Ms. Potter is Director of Bands and Chair of the Music Department at Quincy Notre Dame High School, and is an adjunct instructor of woodwinds at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri. She is a well-known guest conductor of bands and music festivals in addition to being an accomplished clarinetist. She conducted the Mississippi River Brass Band to Second Place in Honors and Championship Divisions of the North American Brass Band Association, and performs with the Quincy Symphony Orchestra, Quincy Community Concert Band, and the Quincy Area All-Star Clarinet Choir. Pam is a past president of the National Catholic Band Association 1983-87, and was Chair of the North American Band Directors Coordinating Council in 1985.
Her awards include the 2004 Illinois Humanities Council "Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award", the National Catholic Band Association's "Charles R. Winking Award" for outstanding contributions to the field of wind band conducting; "Notre Dame Band Alumni Award"; "YWCA Woman of Achievement Award in Education"; Quincy University "Charles Winking Memorial Award"; National Catholic Band Association "Adam Lesinsky Award" in recognition for outstanding service to music education; and she was featured in THE SCHOOL MUSICIAN magazine - January 1986. Ms. Potter is also a member of the Board of Directors of the John Philip Sousa Foundation.
Ms. Pamela Potter
Pamela Potter was named Music Director and Conductor of the Quincy Park Band in 1993, the second director in the band's 60- year history. Under her leadership, the Park Band has received numerous grants and was awarded the 1998 City of Quincy Arts Organization Award for having made a substantial impact on the cultural development of the community. The Park Band was selected to perform for President Clinton on his visit to Quincy in January of 2000. In June of 2004, the band performed at the World War II Memorial and the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. and hosted the Association of Concert Bands National Convention in 2005.
Ms. Potter is Director of Bands and Chair of the Music Department at Quincy Notre Dame High School, and is an adjunct instructor of woodwinds at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri. She is a well-known guest conductor of bands and music festivals in addition to being an accomplished clarinetist. She conducted the Mississippi River Brass Band to Second Place in Honors and Championship Divisions of the North American Brass Band Association, and performs with the Quincy Symphony Orchestra, Quincy Community Concert Band, and the Quincy Area All-Star Clarinet Choir. Pam is a past president of the National Catholic Band Association 1983-87, and was Chair of the North American Band Directors Coordinating Council in 1985.
Her awards include the 2004 Illinois Humanities Council "Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award", the National Catholic Band Association's "Charles R. Winking Award" for outstanding contributions to the field of wind band conducting; "Notre Dame Band Alumni Award"; "YWCA Woman of Achievement Award in Education"; Quincy University "Charles Winking Memorial Award"; National Catholic Band Association "Adam Lesinsky Award" in recognition for outstanding service to music education; and she was featured in THE SCHOOL MUSICIAN magazine - January 1986. Ms. Potter is also a member of the Board of Directors of the John Philip Sousa Foundation.
Ms. Linda J. Gammon
Linda J. Gammon is currently the director of middle school bands at Rachel Carson Middle School in Fairfax County, VA. She is a native of Dover-Foxcroft, Maine and received her Bachelor of Science degree in music education from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Arts degree in conducting from George Mason University.
Under Ms. Gammon’s direction, her middle school bands have earned consistent superior ratings, awards, and enjoy state, regional and national recognition including three appearances at the 1992, 1993, 2000 Virginia Music Educators State Conferences and the 1993, 2000 Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. In 1997 Ms. Gammon and the Robinson Middle School Symphonic Band were awarded the prestigious John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Silver Cup Award, the highest honor bestowed on a middle school band program.
Ms. Gammon currently serves as the Virginia MEA Conference Coordinator and is a Past President of the Virginia Music Educators Association, the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association, and the Fairfax County Band Directors Association. She is a member of MENC, VMEA, Phi Beta Mu, the American School Band Directors Association, the National Band Association, and the Women Band Directors International Association.
During the school year, Ms. Gammon is active as an adjudicator, guest conductor, and clinician. She is a contributing author to the music curriculum “Band Expressions” published by Alfred and “Teaching Music through Performance in Band” published by GIA. She has been recognized by the School Band and Orchestra Magazine as one of the “Fifty Directors Who Make A Difference”, awarded numerous National Band Association “Citations of Excellence” and recognized by the Women Band Directors International as 2003 Scroll of Excellence recipient. In 2007 Ms. Gammon was awarded the Virginia Outstanding Music Educator of the Year Award.
Linda J. Gammon is currently the director of middle school bands at Rachel Carson Middle School in Fairfax County, VA. She is a native of Dover-Foxcroft, Maine and received her Bachelor of Science degree in music education from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Arts degree in conducting from George Mason University.
Under Ms. Gammon’s direction, her middle school bands have earned consistent superior ratings, awards, and enjoy state, regional and national recognition including three appearances at the 1992, 1993, 2000 Virginia Music Educators State Conferences and the 1993, 2000 Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. In 1997 Ms. Gammon and the Robinson Middle School Symphonic Band were awarded the prestigious John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Silver Cup Award, the highest honor bestowed on a middle school band program.
Ms. Gammon currently serves as the Virginia MEA Conference Coordinator and is a Past President of the Virginia Music Educators Association, the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association, and the Fairfax County Band Directors Association. She is a member of MENC, VMEA, Phi Beta Mu, the American School Band Directors Association, the National Band Association, and the Women Band Directors International Association.
During the school year, Ms. Gammon is active as an adjudicator, guest conductor, and clinician. She is a contributing author to the music curriculum “Band Expressions” published by Alfred and “Teaching Music through Performance in Band” published by GIA. She has been recognized by the School Band and Orchestra Magazine as one of the “Fifty Directors Who Make A Difference”, awarded numerous National Band Association “Citations of Excellence” and recognized by the Women Band Directors International as 2003 Scroll of Excellence recipient. In 2007 Ms. Gammon was awarded the Virginia Outstanding Music Educator of the Year Award.
Dr. Steven Grimo
Steven Grimo retried in 2006 as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force, serving as the Commander & Conductor of the USAF Academy Band, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. During his 22-year career he served as a band officer and commander throughout the United States and the Pacific. He is presently the Chairman of the Music Ministries Department at the Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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. He began his teaching career as an elementary and junior high school music director for the Newton, Massachusetts public schools and 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 from the American School Band Directors Association.
During is tenure teaching in Massachusetts, he received his Masters of Music degree in Wind Ensemble Conducting from the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Frank Battisti. He founded the “East Bay Association for the Arts”, in Bristol Rhode Island, where his grant writing and fundraising tenacity, established an organization, whose heritage recently celebrated their 30th Anniversary Season. During this time, he was also an instructor at the New England Conservatory Preparatory Division teaching percussion and conducting the “Junior Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble”, another organization which he founded, and today is and outstanding youth wind ensemble, dedicated to training 7th though 9th grade instrumentalist throughout the state of Massachusetts.
He was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts 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 an internationally active guest conductor and clinician. As a music director, conductor and producer, he has lectured and conducted professional and collegiate organizations throughout the world. His advocacy for commissioning new works has resulted in over 30 compositions for winds. In March 2006 he was inducted into the prestigious American Bandmasters Association.
Steven Grimo retried in 2006 as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force, serving as the Commander & Conductor of the USAF Academy Band, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. During his 22-year career he served as a band officer and commander throughout the United States and the Pacific. He is presently the Chairman of the Music Ministries Department at the Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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. He began his teaching career as an elementary and junior high school music director for the Newton, Massachusetts public schools and 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 from the American School Band Directors Association.
During is tenure teaching in Massachusetts, he received his Masters of Music degree in Wind Ensemble Conducting from the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Frank Battisti. He founded the “East Bay Association for the Arts”, in Bristol Rhode Island, where his grant writing and fundraising tenacity, established an organization, whose heritage recently celebrated their 30th Anniversary Season. During this time, he was also an instructor at the New England Conservatory Preparatory Division teaching percussion and conducting the “Junior Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble”, another organization which he founded, and today is and outstanding youth wind ensemble, dedicated to training 7th though 9th grade instrumentalist throughout the state of Massachusetts.
He was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts 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 an internationally active guest conductor and clinician. As a music director, conductor and producer, he has lectured and conducted professional and collegiate organizations throughout the world. His advocacy for commissioning new works has resulted in over 30 compositions for winds. In March 2006 he was inducted into the prestigious American Bandmasters Association.
Capt. Lewis J. Buckley
Lewis J. Buckley was born in Columbus, Ohio, but considers himself a native of Florida, the state in which he grew up. He earned his undergraduate degree from the Eastman School of Music and his Master's degree from Connecticut College. While at Eastman, he earned the Performer's Certificate for outstanding performance on the trumpet, and he studied conducting and composition.
He enlisted into the U. S. Coast Guard Band in 1969, where he served as Principal Trumpet and Trumpet Soloist for six years. Then, in 1975, he became the Coast Guard Band's fifth Director at age 27, a post he held for over 29 years, becoming the longest-tenured conductor of a senior military band in American history.
Under his baton, the Coast Guard Band became a famed, national touring organization; released some 20 recordings; aired more taped and live concert broadcasts on National Public Radio than any other concert band, military or civilian, in the United States; and earned a reputation as one of the most accomplished wind bands in the world.
Since 2004, Buckley has been the Conductor and Artistic Director of the Manchester (CT) Symphony Orchestra. For fifteen years, he conducted the Hartford Symphony Orchestra in its annual Symphony on Ice/Toys for Tots program, and he has also conducted the Eastern Connecticut Symphony during its summer series.
In 2007, he was named Music Director and Conductor of the Metropolitan Wind Symphony, a superb community wind band in the Boston area. This remarkable group has an active commissioning program which has added works by Johan de Meij, Peter Schickele, James Curnow, Michael Gandolfi (by consortium) and, most recently, Chen Yi, to the wind repertoire.
As a conductor, Buckley brings to the podium more than 35 years' professional experience in an unusually wide range of music-making. He is equally at home conducting, writing, or performing, with bands, orchestras, and choruses, in all styles of music from classical to commercial to jazz. The guest artists whom he has conducted reflect his range of experience; they include Walter Cronkite, opera giant Placido Domingo, Lorrie Morgan and Lone Star of country fame, the Motown sound of Martha Reeves, and many others.
He continues to compose, arrange, and publish prolifically, bringing to his work the knowledge earned in 35 years on the podium, and his music is widely performed. He also remains an active trumpet soloist, frequently combining solo appearances with conducting, often in premiere performances of his own commissioned works.
Lewis J. Buckley was born in Columbus, Ohio, but considers himself a native of Florida, the state in which he grew up. He earned his undergraduate degree from the Eastman School of Music and his Master's degree from Connecticut College. While at Eastman, he earned the Performer's Certificate for outstanding performance on the trumpet, and he studied conducting and composition.
He enlisted into the U. S. Coast Guard Band in 1969, where he served as Principal Trumpet and Trumpet Soloist for six years. Then, in 1975, he became the Coast Guard Band's fifth Director at age 27, a post he held for over 29 years, becoming the longest-tenured conductor of a senior military band in American history.
Under his baton, the Coast Guard Band became a famed, national touring organization; released some 20 recordings; aired more taped and live concert broadcasts on National Public Radio than any other concert band, military or civilian, in the United States; and earned a reputation as one of the most accomplished wind bands in the world.
Since 2004, Buckley has been the Conductor and Artistic Director of the Manchester (CT) Symphony Orchestra. For fifteen years, he conducted the Hartford Symphony Orchestra in its annual Symphony on Ice/Toys for Tots program, and he has also conducted the Eastern Connecticut Symphony during its summer series.
In 2007, he was named Music Director and Conductor of the Metropolitan Wind Symphony, a superb community wind band in the Boston area. This remarkable group has an active commissioning program which has added works by Johan de Meij, Peter Schickele, James Curnow, Michael Gandolfi (by consortium) and, most recently, Chen Yi, to the wind repertoire.
As a conductor, Buckley brings to the podium more than 35 years' professional experience in an unusually wide range of music-making. He is equally at home conducting, writing, or performing, with bands, orchestras, and choruses, in all styles of music from classical to commercial to jazz. The guest artists whom he has conducted reflect his range of experience; they include Walter Cronkite, opera giant Placido Domingo, Lorrie Morgan and Lone Star of country fame, the Motown sound of Martha Reeves, and many others.
He continues to compose, arrange, and publish prolifically, bringing to his work the knowledge earned in 35 years on the podium, and his music is widely performed. He also remains an active trumpet soloist, frequently combining solo appearances with conducting, often in premiere performances of his own commissioned works.
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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