A message from the Hot Springs Concert Band...The Hot Springs Concert Band has, to say the least, had a very busy spring. Not only has the band played its annual Memorial Day concert, but it prepared for and performed an additional concert beyond its typical annual schedule. The Memorial Day Concert, the band's only scheduled outdoor concert of the year, unfortunately had to be relocated indoors this year due to inclement weather. However, the indoor venue was an excellent location for the concert and just down the street from Whittington Park where the concert would have normally been. Cody Ford, one of the band's tuba players, is now the music director for the Arkansas School of Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts. He was very generous and accommodating in allowing the band to perform there - and to a large and appreciative audience. It was for everyone present truly a patriotic and somber musical tribute to those fallen American patriots who gave their all to preserve our freedom - and to those who have served or are still serving our country in uniform with the commitment to do the same if called upon. During the "Armed Services Salute" medley, Band conductor Jim Lloyd asked those veterans in the audience to stand when the song of the armed services branch each served in was played. He also asked those active band members to stand who had served in our nation's Armed Forces. These can be seen in the gallery of concert photos. One other notable part of the concert was that it was the final concert for one of the band's French Horn players, and the oldest of our band family. Ninety-one-year-old Ruth Hamm bid farewell to the French Horn section and the band as a player, but she fully intends to make as many concerts as she is able to in the days to come. Thank you, Ruth, for giving of your time and talents to the Hot Springs Concert Band for 17 years. You can read about Ruth's fascinating life of music on the band website. The additional concert this year was that at the Association of Concert Bands Convention, held June 4-8 in Fort Smith. This convention is a roving convention, meaning it is held at a different location each year. It was last held in Arkansas in 2004, when the convention was hosted in Hot Springs by then the Hot Springs Community Band. This year, the Hot Springs Concert Band (HSCB) was one of six performing bands at the convention. The HSCB performed eight songs to a near capacity crowd in the Grand Ballroom of the Wyndham Hotel and Conference Center on the evening of June 5. With few exceptions, a full complement of HSCB musicians committed to making the long trip to Fort Smith and gave an exceptional performance to a room full of musicians who showed their appreciation for the musicianship of the Band. Some band leaders and musician participated in the entire convention, which consisted of clinics, training sessions and roundtables along with rehearsals and concerts. Also important was the camaraderie shared by the folks. For many, these conventions serve as one of the few times, if not the only time, that they see old friends and colleagues during the year.... or perhaps over several years depending on convention locations. Included in the participating bands was the Convention Band, comprised of nearly 80 musicians from around the country and Canada. Three HSCB musicians, Dr. Mary Ritch, David Pierce, and Cinthia Graham were among those who gave a stellar performance on the final evening of the Convention. For many in the HSCB, convention participation was a rare or perhaps even a once in a lifetime opportunity. Next year's convention will be held in Baltimore, Maryland. Next up for the Hot Springs Concert Band will be the annual summer concert series, to be held in the Fountain Lake High School Auditorium. The indoor venue will give the band and audience more comfort and certainty of concert location amidst the always threatening heat and inclement weather. This year's series will be on Monday evenings at 6:00 on June 16, June 30, July 14, and July 28. The summer concert themes will be as follows, respectively: "Encore," "The Beat Goes On," "Bon Voyage" and "Stage and Screen." All summer concerts are free and open to the public, but there will be opportunity to donate toward the band's operating expenses. After the summer concert series, the band will take a well-deserved break in August and then in September start preparing for its 50th anniversary concert scheduled for Sunday afternoon, October 12, at the Woodlands Auditorium in Hot Springs Village. Then, the band will close out the year with the annual Christmas Concert at the Woodlands on Thursday evening, December 11. Be sure to check out this website for more details on the band's performance schedule and the gallery of concert photos, as well as other information and history on the band. The website also has a link where folks can choose to become a Friend of the Band, which provides opportunity to donate to the band on a regular basis. Also, for those of you who are Facebook users, the band's Facebook page provides information as well as personal observations and other contributions from both band members and followers. The band looks forward to seeing you at the summer concerts! |
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