Saturday, August 5, 2023

2023 Season Closing Remarks

The Chemical City Band (CCB) closed its 114th season with a concert on July 26, traditionally performed at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park.  The weather was not very cooperative this year - one concert was cancelled and three others were moved (due to rain and smoke) to Central Auditorium.  We wish to thank all those who attended, regardless of last minute changes to the venue.

The drum shells were available for cash contributions during each concert.  We received over $400 one evening, a new record for CCB!  During the 2023 season, 77 musicians performed at least 1 concert, and 15 played (or rehearsed) for all 7.  Instrumentation gaps were filled by talented high school & college students, accounting for 14 of our personnel this year.  Finally, we averaged 46 players each week.

The CCB has a 6 member Board of Directors who are also performing members of the band:

Richard S. Harner, president

Susan M. Gessford, vice-president

Gaye Terwillegar, secretary

Richard L. Scott, treasurer

Mara Stewart, publicity director

Stephen E. DeRees, music director

The CCB operates with 3 paid staff positions. Sue Gessford serves as personnel manager, Beth Thomas as librarian, and Steve DeRees as band conductor.  Additionally, Tom Broka was our guest conductor on July 19 and Justin Taylor was the featured trombone soloist on June 28.

In addition to contributions from the general public, the Board would like to acknowledge operating financial support from the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation and the Alden and Vada Dow Family Foundation.  The CCB also participated in the Give Local Midland one-day fund raiser in May, sponsored by the Midland Area Community Foundation (MACF).  Without this local support, the CCB would not be viable.

Contributions to the CCB Endowment Fund, administered by the MACF, can be made at any time by indicating the Chemical City Band long term investment fund #545.  Any income in excess of expenses is deposited in our MACF fund with a goal of self-sufficiency in the future.


Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell


2023 Roster (alphabetical by first name)

Adrienne Feige    Andrew Kowalski    Andrew Reed
Angela Kalcek    Anna Gessford    Anne Halls
Ash Goldberg    Autumn Brutyn    Ben Dawley
Beth Thomas    Bobbi Shephard    Brenda Selley
Brenden Dastick    Camryn Toth    Cara Bucci
Chris Seman    Cora Lambert    Dave Selley
Dean Bard    Dick Scott    Elijah Skutt
Emma Longoria    Eric Attard    Everett Kalcek
Gabe Krish    Gavin Mehl    Gaye Terwillegar
Grant Wang    Greg Bovid    Izaac Ringgold
Jacob Weisenbach    Jason Folkenroth    Jessica Chai
Jim Lile    Jim Pavilcek    John Kostoff
JR Nosal    Justin Taylor    Justin Walker
Katelynn Kosar    Ken Pederson    Ken Yegiala
Kerry Smith    Kevin Rash    Laura Maiers
Lindsay Walker    Logan Gessford    Lonny Cruff
Mara Stewart    Matt Thomas    Mattie Midkiff
Meg Carlson    Miranda Noel    Nathan Ng
Nathan Snyder    Nicole Bruski    Nicole Rausch
Owen DeLong    Rachel Morr    Rich Harner
Rick Enszer    Roger Stevens    Ryan Egeler
Ryan Petersen    Sam Ringgold    Shirley Walker
Stan Rowe    Stephanie Gessford    Sue Bovid
Sue Genau    Sue Gessford    Tina DeLong
Tom Broka    Tom Coon    Tom Peterson
Tom Rice    Tom Ryden



Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Week 7 - July 26 Concert

Update: Due to the uncertain weather, our final concert will be moved to Central Auditorium.

Band members need to report to the auditorium at 6:30 pm for setup and rehearsal.  The doors will open to the public at 7:00 pm.

The Chemical City Band will attempt to perform in the seventh week of the 2023 season on Wednesday, July 26 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 pm.  Weather predictions for the evening are not looking good at this time.  We will move to Central Auditorium if rain is likely during the concert time.  Please check this blog or our Facebook page for last minute updates.

Most of the music listed below was originally programmed for the July 12 concert, which was cancelled due to rain.  Steve DeRees will return as our conductor for the evening.


Proud Heritage.................................................................................................William Latham

Abington Ridge Overture......................................................................................Ed Huckeby

Highlights from "Frozen".................................................................................arr. Sean O'Loughlin

The Time Is Now.................................................................................................Harry Stone

Suite from the Universal Picture "Jaws"......................................John Williams, arr. J. Cacavas

Alexander's Ragtime Band....................................................................Irving Berlin, arr. J. Taylor


Intermission


Trombones to the Fore...........................................Harold T. Scull, arr. D.A. Pope & N. Richardson

Big Band Classics...............................................................................................arr. Eric Osterling

Carioca........................................................................................Vincent Youmans, arr. B. Lowden

Rock 'n' Roll Explosion!.....................................................................................arr. Jerry Nowak

From Maine to Oregon March............................................................................John Philip Sousa

America, the Beautiful...........................................................Samuel F. Ward, arr. A.F. Gaylord

The Star-Spangled Banner...............................................John Stafford Smith, arr. A.F. Gaylord


Proposed Construction for Fall 2023


Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Week 6 - July 19 Concert

 The Chemical City Band will perform its sixth concert of the 2023 season on July 19 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 pm.  In case of rain, the concert will be moved to Central Auditorium.  Please check this blog or our Facebook page for last minute updates.

Tom Broka is our guest conductor this week.  He has chosen the following musical selections for your enjoyment, separated by a short intermission:


Emblem of Unity March....................................................................................J.J. Richards

Summertime.....................................................................George Gershwin, arr. C. Custer

The Thunder and the Roar....................................................................Pierre La Plante

Music from "Apollo 13".............................................................James Horner, arr. J. Moss

Ashokan Farewell.....................................................................Jay Ungar, arr. C. Custer

The Purple Pageant Concert March..........................................Karl L. King, arr. J.P. Paynter


Intermission


The Free Lance March................................................................................John Philip Sousa

The Blue and the Gray................................................................................Clare Grundman

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull...........John Williams, arr. by M. Story

Festivo.................................................................................................Vaclav Nelhybel

America, the Beautiful....................................................Samuel F. Ward, arr. A.F. Gaylord

The Star-Spangled Banner.........................................John Stafford Smith, arr. A.F. Gaylord


James Horner



Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Week 5 - July 12 Concert

UPDATE #2:  The concert tonight is cancelled due to the approaching storm.  Central Auditorium was not available.  Band Members: Please turn in your music tonight in the parking lot on Collins St.  The folders will have new music on Monday next week when Tom Broka directs the band.

UPDATE:  The concert will be performed at the band shell tonight.  We will start about 5 minutes early and play without an intermission, to try to beat the rain.  Hope to see you there!

The Chemical City Band will perform its fifth concert of the 2023 season on July 12 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 pm.  In case of rain, the concert will be moved to Central Auditorium.  Please check this blog or our Facebook page for last minute updates.

Our conductor this week is Steve DeRees.  The following musical selections will be presented with a short intermission:

Proud Heritage..................................................................................................................William Latham
 
Abington Ridge Overture.........................................................................................................Ed Huckeby
 
Highlights from "Frozen"............................................................................................arr. Sean O'Loughlin

The Time is Now....................................................................................................................Harry Stone

Suite from the Universal Picture "Jaws"........................................................John Williams, arr. J. Cacavas

Alexander's Ragtime Band.................................................................................Irving Berlin, arr. J. Taylor

Intermission

Big Band Classics........................................................................................................arr. Eric Osterling

Carioca.................................................................................................Vincent Youmans, arr. Bob Lowden

Rock 'n' Roll Explosion!.....................................................................................................arr. Jerry Nowak

From Maine to Oregon March....................................................................................John Philip Sousa

America, the Beautiful............................................................................Samuel F. Ward, arr. A.F. Gaylord

The Star-Spangled Banner................................................................John Stafford Smith, arr. A.F. Gaylord

 


John Williams


Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Week 4 - July 5 Concert

Update:  The Chemical City Band concert has been moved to Central Auditorium tonight @ 7:30 pm.  All band members need to arrive by 6 pm for setup and rehearsal.


The Chemical City Band will perform its fourth concert of the 2023 season on Wednesday, July 5 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 pm.  

Due to the 4th of July holiday, the band will rehearse only at the band shell at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, immediately before the concert.  In case of rain, the rehearsal and concert will be moved to Central Auditorium.  Please check this blog or our Facebook page for last minute updates.

Steve DeRees will conduct a program of patriotic music below, with no intermission:

 

Liberty Spirit March.........................................................................................................Patrick Wilson

Elegy for the U.S.S. Arizona........................................................................................Larry MacTaggart

Miss Liberty March.....................................................................................................John Edmondson

God Bless America.......................................................................................Irving Berlin, arr. F.D. Cofield

National Emblem March.......................................................................Edwin E. Bagley, ed. F. Fennell

America, from "West Side Story"....................Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein, arr. M. Brown

Salute to America's Finest........................................................................................arr. Paul Lavender

Stars and Stripes Forever........................................................................................John Philip Sousa

America, the Beautiful.............................................................Samuel F. Ward, arr. Erik W.G. Leidzen

The Star-Spangled Banner......................Frances Scott Key and John Stafford Smith, arr. A.F. Gaylord

 



Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Week 3 - June 28 Concert

UPDATE: Due to the predicted air quality in Midland tomorrow, the concert is moved to Central Auditorium.

On Wednesday, June 28, doors will open for audience seating at 7:00 pm for the concert at 7:30 pm.  All band members should report by 6:30 pm for special setup, followed by rehearsal.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Chemical City Band will perform its third concert of the 2023 season on Wednesday, June 28 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 pm.  Even though weather predictions are good, the concert will be moved to Central Auditorium in case of rain.  Please check this blog or our Facebook page for last minute updates.

Steve DeRees will direct the band once again this week and present the following musical selections with a short intermission:

Here Comes the Band March..............................................................................George H. Willcocks

Titus Overture.....................................................................................W.A. Mozart, arr. R.L. Moehlmann

A Day at Disneyland.................................................................................................arr. Michael Story

Rough-Riders Galop/March....................................................................Karl L. King, arr. J. Swearingen

Blue Bells of Scotland, Air and Variations..................................................Arthur Pryor, arr. E.M. Pearson

Justin Taylor, trombone soloist

Insignia.....................................................................................................................Sean O'Loughlin

Intermission

Dixieland Jam!...........................................................................................................arr. Bob Lowden

Intrada Jubilante....................................................................................................David R. Gillingham

I'll See You in my Dreams.........................................................................Gus Kahn and Isham Jones

The Trombone Rag.............................................................................................................John Higgins

King Cotton March..............................................................................John Philip Sousa, ed. F. Fennell

America, the Beautiful.......................................................................Samuel F. Ward, arr. A.F. Gaylord

The Star-Spangled Banner..........................................................John Stafford Smith, arr. A.F. Gaylord


Arthur Pryor


Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Week 2 - June 21 Concert

The Chemical City Band will perform its second concert of the 2023 season on Wednesday, June 21 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 pm.  In case of rain, the concert will be moved to Central Auditorium.  Please check this blog or our Facebook page for last minute updates.  See you there!

Steve DeRees will direct the band for this concert and present the following musical selections with a short intermission:

The Maestro (Concert March)..................................................................................Eric Osterling

Excerpts from the Opera "Lohengrin"..........................................Richard Wagner, arr. E. Osterling

Highlights from "Star Trek - The Motion Picture".............................Jerry Goldsmith, arr. J. Edmondson

Begin the Beguine....................................................................................Cole Porter, arr. J. Krance

The Black Horse Troup March..........................................................John Philip Sousa, ed. F. Fennell

Intermission

A Westchester Overture...................................................................................................Clare Grundman

The Lion King - Broadway Selections..........................................................................arr. Jay Bocook

Get Smart...............................................................................................Irving Szathmary, arr. M. Brown

Choose Joy..............................................................................................................Randall D. Standridge

Our Flirtation March........................................................................................................John Philip Sousa

America, the Beautiful............................................................................Samuel F. Ward, arr. A.F. Gaylord

The Star-Spangled Banner................................................................John Stafford Smith, arr. A.F. Gaylord