Check is in the mail

Honorarium checks for band members were mailed on August 28th - if you do not receive your check, be sure to let me know.

Thanks again for a great season, and I look forward to seeing everyone again next summer.

Jim

Many thanks!

The 100th season of the Chemical City Band is now a part of our history. We have begun the 2nd century of community music making, and it is vital that we express our thanks to our loyal audience. You are the best!

A note to band members - watch your e-mail for news regarding the payroll, as well as any information regarding band shell updates, etc through the year.

See everyone next summer for the 101st season!

Jim Huber, director

HuberJP@mps.k12.mi.us

Final concert, July 27

Into the Clouds ................................................................Richard Saucedo

March of the Belgian Paratroopers ............................. Pierre Leemans

Rhapsody Americana ..................................................... John Higgins

Chautauqua ...................................................................... Robert W. Smth

SPECIAL PRESENTATION - COMMUNITY HERO AWARD

You Raise Me Up ............................................................. arr. Michael Bowen

I Got Rhythm ................................................................... George Gershwin

Heritage March ............................................................... Steve Hodges

with guest conductor, Greg Smokovitz:

Intermission

2nd half :

The cast of "The Beauty and the Beast", MCFTA/TMI production

Week 6 - July 22, 8pm

Program for the July 22nd concert is:

Crosley March ..................................................................... Henry Fillmore

Toccata for Band ................................................................. Frank Erickson

Pilgrim's Chorus (from Tannhauser) ............................... Richard Wagner / arr. Reed

Alla Barocco ......................................................................... Cesar Giovannini

On the Mall, march ............................................................. Edwin Franko Goldman

Intermission

Jubilant, marsch .................................................................. Ulrich / arr. Rundel

Late in the Evening ............................................................. Paul Simon /arr. Dawson

The Girl from Ipanema ...................................................... arr. James Ployhar

Manhattan Beach, march ................................................... John Philip Sousa

Week 5 - July 15th, 8pm

Program for the Wednesday July 15th concert is:

Military Escort, march ................................................. Harold Bennett
A Percy Grainger Suite ................................................ arr. Frank Erickson
1. Country Gardens 2. Irish Tune 3. Molly on the Shore
Abington Ridge ............................................................ Ed Huckeby
Rock Around the Clock .................................................. Max Freedman
Chimes of Liberty, march ............................................. E. F. Goldman

Intermission

MacArthur Park ........................................................... Jimmy Webb
Sounds of the Carpenters ............................................ arr. John Cacavas
Bacchanale, from Samson & Dalila ............................. C. Saint-Saens
The Liberty Bell, march .............................................. John Philip Sousa

Week #4 - July 8, 2009 8pm

The proposed music for this week's concert is as follows:

The Billboard, circus march .............................................................John N. Klohr
Ave Verum Corpus ............................................................................W. A. Mozart

Joshua ................................................................................................ arr Bill Moffit
Firework Music .................................................................................G. F. Handel
American Red Cross, march ............................................................Louis Panella

Intermission

Trombone King, march ................................................................... Karl L. King

Toccata and Fugue ........................................................................... Johann Ernst Eberlin
Hooray for Hollywood .....................................................................arr. Warren Barker
On the Campus, march .................................................................... John Philip Sousa
America the Beautiful/National Anthem


Let's hope the weatherman is more cooperative for this week!!! :)

Week #3 - July 1st & July 4th

The coming week features two performances by the Chemical City Band:

Wednesday July 1st, 8pm, Central Park

Saturday July 4th, 6pm, Chippewassee Park

American Patrol, march	F. W. Meachem
Hooray for Hollywood	arr. Warren Barker
MacArthur Park	Jimmy Webb
The Whistler and his Dog, caprice	Arthur Pryor
High and Mighty, march	Fred Jewell
Intermission
The Roaring Twenties	arr. Paul Jennings
Take Me Out to the Ball Game (audience sing-a-long)	arr. John Edmondson
Battle Hymn of the Republic	arr. Peter Wilhousky
Salute to America’s Finest (military march medley)	arr. Paul Lavendar
Stars and Stripes Forever	John Philip Sousa
America the Beautiful/National Anthem	Traditional

Concert #2 - Wed June 24th

Our second concert of the season will be on Wednesday June 24th, beginning at 8pm in Central Park's Ted Nicholson Band Shell. The confirmed program is:

The NC4, march ..................................................................................... F. E. Bigelow

Carnival Suite .........................................................................................Philip J. Lang

1. Off We Go to the Carnival
2. The Ferris Wheel
3. Ice Cream Cones and Cotton Candy
4. The Merry Go Round

Fandango ................................................................................................ Frank Perkins

The World Turned Upside Down, march .......................................... arr. Robert Jager

Intermission

The Genius of Paul Simon .................................................................... arr. Tom Wallace

Belle of the Ball ...................................................................................... Leroy Anderson

Romantic Overture ................................................................................ Forrest Buchtel

I Love A Sousa March ............................................................................Mack Wolfson

America the Beautiful/National Anthem

Opening night reflections

What a great opening night for the band's 100th season of concerts here in Midland! An audience estimated at over 400 people came to hear The Resonators join the Chemical City Band for a wonderful tribute to our friend, colleague, and conductor emeritus Bob Ralston. Special thanks to our soloists Wesley Swartz (bagpipes) and Barbara Jacques (vocalist).

I want to also thank Jeff Hayes, manager of Central Auditorium, for his assistance in moving this concert indoors. It was a special occasion, as we normally cannot use this venue when the weather is "uncooperative".

Our next concert is Wednesday June 24, beginning at 8pm. The location will be the Ted Nicholson band shell at Central Park - see you there!

Opening night program selections for June 17th, 8pm

Here is the tentative program for Wed June 17th at 8pm:

1st half:

The Resonators Percussion Ensemble

Jim Fulkerson, directing

2nd half:

National Emblem, march .......................................................... Bagley/arr. Fennell

The Blue Tail Fly ........................................................................ Grundman

Amazing Grace ............................................................................ arr. Dawson

(in memory of Robert T. Ralston) Wes Swartz, bagpipe soloist w/ band

Highlights from The King and I .............................................. Rodgers & Hammerstein

Barbara Jacques, vocal soloist

The Midnight Fire Alarm (Revisited!) .................................... Lincoln/arr. Krance

Riders for the Flag, march ......................................................... Sousa / arr. Fennell

Chemical City Band

Jim Huber, drecting

Robert T. Ralston 1926-2009

Bob Ralston, Director Emeritus of the Chemical City Band passed away on Friday June 5th following a brief illness. Bob was director of the band from 1980-2002, and was a friend and mentor to many, many musicians in the Midland community. He came to Midland in 1973 to succeed Larry Guenther as Coordinator of Music for Midland Public Schools (Mr. Guenther had also been director of the Chemical City Band from 1955-1979). After his retirement from MPS in 1989, he co-founded the Midland Community Orchestra, which he directed until 2007. Bob had also been a long time member of the local Kiwanis Club, the First United Methodist Church, and the french horn section in the Midland Symphony Orchestra.

On a personal note, Bob was a professional and personal mentor to me. He was the "gentleman's gentleman", a consummate teacher, and one of the kindest men I have even known. One does not take Bob's place in any role (and in my case, I've followed him with the Chemical City Band, as well as followed in his shoes as MPS Coordinator of Music); one does their best to follow his example and to carry his work into the next generation.  That has been and will continue to be my desire with the band, as well as my in work with MPS. 

In honor of Bob's life and his faith, the band will be performing a special arrangement of Amazing Grace (complete with bagpipe soloist) during our opening night concert on Wednesday June 17th. One of Midland's finest educators and musicians has gone home to be with his Lord, and all of us have been blessed to have known him. 

Please keep his wife Alice in your thoughts during the weeks and months ahead. A memorial service will take place on Saturday, June 13, 2009, at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Carl Price and Rev. Dr. Brent McCumons officiating. The musical prelude will begin at 2:30 p.m. and the service will begin at 3:00 p.m. Family and friends may visit at the church on Friday, June 12, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. and on Saturday from 2:00 until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be offered to the Midland Symphony Orchestra in order to endow the MSO Principal Horn Chair in Bob’s name. By contributing to the endowment, you can honor Bob in perpetuity by naming this chair in the section Bob performed with for many years. With your support, “The Robert T. Ralston Chair” will appear on the Midland Symphony Orchestra personnel page for seasons to come. Checks can be made payable to:  The Robert T. Ralston Chair – MCFTA, and sent to Midland Symphony Orchestra: 1801 W. St. Andrews Rd. Midland, MI, 48640.

Opening night is June 17th at 8pm

The opening night performance for the 100th anniversary season of the Chemical City Band will take place on Wednesday June 17, starting at 8pm. The band will be joined by our special guests from the Resonators Percussion Ensemble, who will perform the first half of the concert. The group is under the direction of Jim Fulkerson.

The Chemical City Band will offer several selections to round out of the second half of the evening. Jim Huber, opening his 8th season as conductor, will be on the podium for the 45 member community concert band. 

2009 season announced

Performance dates:

June 17 - Central Park, 8pm
June 24 - Central Park, 8pm
July 1 - Central Park, 8pm
July 4 - Chippewassee Park, 6pm (note earlier time)
July 8 - Central Park, 8pm
Juy 15 - Central Park, 8pm
July 22 - Central Park, 8pm
July 29 - Central Park, 8pm