Wednesday, June 24, 2009

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




Saturday, June 20, 2009

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

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

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!

Saturday, June 13, 2009

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

Saturday, June 6, 2009

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.

Monday, June 1, 2009

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.