2014 John Philip Sousa National Honor Bands - New England Region
Gorham, ME
FAST FACTS:
Dates: April 24-26, 2014
Host/Rehearsal Location: Gorham Middle School, 106 Weeks Road, Gorham, ME 04038
Concert Location: McCormack Performing Arts Center, Gorham High School, 41 Morrill Avenue, Gorham, ME 04038
Festival Hotel: Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel, 155 Riverside Street, Portland, ME 04103
Conductors:
Ms. Pamela Potter - Junior Honors Concert Band
Mr. Jay S. Gephart - Senior Honors Symphonic Band
Dates: April 24-26, 2014
Host/Rehearsal Location: Gorham Middle School, 106 Weeks Road, Gorham, ME 04038
Concert Location: McCormack Performing Arts Center, Gorham High School, 41 Morrill Avenue, Gorham, ME 04038
Festival Hotel: Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel, 155 Riverside Street, Portland, ME 04103
Conductors:
Ms. Pamela Potter - Junior Honors Concert Band
Mr. Jay S. Gephart - Senior Honors Symphonic Band
CONCERT PROGRAM:
Junior Honors Concert Band
“Fanfare and Flourishes” - James Curnow
“Kentucky 1800” - Clare Grundman
“On A Hymnsong of Philip Bliss” - David Holsinger
“Rites of Tamburo” - Robert W. Smith
“Message on the Rock” - Robert Sheldon
“The Washington Post March” - John Philip Sousa/arr. Andrew Balent
Senior Honors Symphonic Band
“The Music Makers” - Alfred Reed
“Pageant” - Vincent Persichetti
“The Dragoons Farewell” - Brant Karrick
“Minimalist Dances” - Matthew Conaway
“The Chimes of Liberty” - Edwin Franko Goldman/arr. Schissel
“Fairest of the Fair” - John Philip Sousa
Junior Honors Concert Band
“Fanfare and Flourishes” - James Curnow
“Kentucky 1800” - Clare Grundman
“On A Hymnsong of Philip Bliss” - David Holsinger
“Rites of Tamburo” - Robert W. Smith
“Message on the Rock” - Robert Sheldon
“The Washington Post March” - John Philip Sousa/arr. Andrew Balent
Senior Honors Symphonic Band
“The Music Makers” - Alfred Reed
“Pageant” - Vincent Persichetti
“The Dragoons Farewell” - Brant Karrick
“Minimalist Dances” - Matthew Conaway
“The Chimes of Liberty” - Edwin Franko Goldman/arr. Schissel
“Fairest of the Fair” - John Philip Sousa

CONDUCTOR BIOS:
Ms. Pamela Potter
Pam Potter recently retired after teaching instrumental music in grades five through twelve for 45 years. She was chair of the music department and director of bands at Quincy Notre Dame High School and the Quincy (IL) Parochial elementary schools for 34 years. She just completed 20 years as conductor of the Quincy Park Band, an adult community band, only the second conductor in the band’s 65 year history.
A native of Quincy, Illinois, Pam completed her undergraduate degree in music education at Quincy University and attended graduate school at the University of Iowa where she played clarinet in the University Symphonic Band that toured Europe and the Soviet Union for three months.
Mrs. Potter 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. She is a past president of the National Catholic Band Association and currently serves as vice-president. In 1985 she chaired the North American Band Directors Coordinating Council.
Some of her awards include being named “Outstanding Conductor of 2011” by the Association of Concert Bands, and was named to the “Bandworld Legion of Honor” by Bandworld magazine. In 2010 she was inducted into the “Wall of Fame” at Pleasant Plains (IL) High School where she taught from 1967-77, and she received the Kappa Kappa Psi 2010 “Silver Baton Award”, In 2004 Ms. Potter was awarded the “Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award” from the Illinois Humanities Council. In addition she has received the National Catholic Band Association’s “Charles R. Winking Award” for outstanding contributions to the field of wind band conducting, and the “Adam Lesinsky Award” in recognition for outstanding service to music education.
Ms. Pamela Potter
Pam Potter recently retired after teaching instrumental music in grades five through twelve for 45 years. She was chair of the music department and director of bands at Quincy Notre Dame High School and the Quincy (IL) Parochial elementary schools for 34 years. She just completed 20 years as conductor of the Quincy Park Band, an adult community band, only the second conductor in the band’s 65 year history.
A native of Quincy, Illinois, Pam completed her undergraduate degree in music education at Quincy University and attended graduate school at the University of Iowa where she played clarinet in the University Symphonic Band that toured Europe and the Soviet Union for three months.
Mrs. Potter 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. She is a past president of the National Catholic Band Association and currently serves as vice-president. In 1985 she chaired the North American Band Directors Coordinating Council.
Some of her awards include being named “Outstanding Conductor of 2011” by the Association of Concert Bands, and was named to the “Bandworld Legion of Honor” by Bandworld magazine. In 2010 she was inducted into the “Wall of Fame” at Pleasant Plains (IL) High School where she taught from 1967-77, and she received the Kappa Kappa Psi 2010 “Silver Baton Award”, In 2004 Ms. Potter was awarded the “Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award” from the Illinois Humanities Council. In addition she has received the National Catholic Band Association’s “Charles R. Winking Award” for outstanding contributions to the field of wind band conducting, and the “Adam Lesinsky Award” in recognition for outstanding service to music education.

Mr. Jay S. Gephart
Jay S. Gephart joined the faculty of Purdue University in the fall of 1995 after having completed 12 years as a public school band director. In July of 2001, he was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure and in 2009 was promoted to Full Professor. In November, 2006, Professor Gephart was appointed Director of University Bands. He currently serves as Director of the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band the Purdue University Wind Ensemble. He is also coordinator of the concert band program. From 1995-2006, Professor Gephart served as the music director for the Purdue Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Gephart received a Master of Music Degree in Performance with High Distinction from Indiana University in 1988 and a Bachelor of Music Education Degree with Distinction from Indiana University in 1983. Under his direction, the Purdue Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra have shared the stage with some of the nation’s outstanding soloists and have represented Purdue at the Indiana Music Educator’s Association state convention on two occasions. In February of 2012 the Purdue Wind Ensemble performed a concert at the national convention of the American Bandmaster's Association, held in Indianapolis. He has also served as a guest conductor, clinician, lecturer and adjudicator both nationally and internationally. He has commissioned numerous works for wind band, including "Anthem" by Steven Bryant which was premiered in 2011 celebrating the 125th Anniversary of Purdue Bands.
In May, 2008, he traveled with the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band to Beijing, China to perform in the “Meet in Beijing” International Arts and Music Festival prior to the Olympic Games and in 2006 his Purdue Symphonic Band performed at the New York Wind Band Festival at Carnegie Hall. Professor Gephart has conducted All-State Bands in Indiana and Arkansas and served as a clinician at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. In 1997, he was selected to conduct the music camp honor band for the Department of Education in the Northern Region of Queensland, Australia. In his career he has been the recipient of many awards and honors including the Indiana Outstanding Bandmaster Award and the Purdue University New Professional Award.
Mr. Gephart has been very active in various professional organizations including Music Educator’s National Conference, National Band Association, College Band Director’s National Association, Indiana Bandmaster’s Association, Indiana Music Educator's Association and Phi Beta Mu. From 2010-12, he served as President of the Big Ten Band Director’s Association and currently holds the position of Vice President and Treasurer of the John Philip Sousa Foundation. He is also a member of the NBA Revelli Composition Contest selection committee. In 2012, he was elected to a position on the board of the National Band Association, serving as the Collegiate Representative. Professor Gephart was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmaster’s Association in 2008 and now serves on the ABA Board of Directors He, his wife Jana and their family reside in Lafayette, Indiana.
Jay S. Gephart joined the faculty of Purdue University in the fall of 1995 after having completed 12 years as a public school band director. In July of 2001, he was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure and in 2009 was promoted to Full Professor. In November, 2006, Professor Gephart was appointed Director of University Bands. He currently serves as Director of the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band the Purdue University Wind Ensemble. He is also coordinator of the concert band program. From 1995-2006, Professor Gephart served as the music director for the Purdue Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Gephart received a Master of Music Degree in Performance with High Distinction from Indiana University in 1988 and a Bachelor of Music Education Degree with Distinction from Indiana University in 1983. Under his direction, the Purdue Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra have shared the stage with some of the nation’s outstanding soloists and have represented Purdue at the Indiana Music Educator’s Association state convention on two occasions. In February of 2012 the Purdue Wind Ensemble performed a concert at the national convention of the American Bandmaster's Association, held in Indianapolis. He has also served as a guest conductor, clinician, lecturer and adjudicator both nationally and internationally. He has commissioned numerous works for wind band, including "Anthem" by Steven Bryant which was premiered in 2011 celebrating the 125th Anniversary of Purdue Bands.
In May, 2008, he traveled with the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band to Beijing, China to perform in the “Meet in Beijing” International Arts and Music Festival prior to the Olympic Games and in 2006 his Purdue Symphonic Band performed at the New York Wind Band Festival at Carnegie Hall. Professor Gephart has conducted All-State Bands in Indiana and Arkansas and served as a clinician at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. In 1997, he was selected to conduct the music camp honor band for the Department of Education in the Northern Region of Queensland, Australia. In his career he has been the recipient of many awards and honors including the Indiana Outstanding Bandmaster Award and the Purdue University New Professional Award.
Mr. Gephart has been very active in various professional organizations including Music Educator’s National Conference, National Band Association, College Band Director’s National Association, Indiana Bandmaster’s Association, Indiana Music Educator's Association and Phi Beta Mu. From 2010-12, he served as President of the Big Ten Band Director’s Association and currently holds the position of Vice President and Treasurer of the John Philip Sousa Foundation. He is also a member of the NBA Revelli Composition Contest selection committee. In 2012, he was elected to a position on the board of the National Band Association, serving as the Collegiate Representative. Professor Gephart was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmaster’s Association in 2008 and now serves on the ABA Board of Directors He, his wife Jana and their family reside in Lafayette, Indiana.
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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