By By Penny Randall / staff writer
June 25, 2004
The Meridian Community College Community Band promises to stir patriotic spirit on Saturday at their annual concert.
The concert will begin at noon at Bonita Lakes Mall's center court. Admission is free. "I think everyone should come support this patriotic concert, especially for the country and our patriots in harms way today," said Carey Smith, MCC's director of music. "This is the 24th year we have performed a patriotic concert and the crowds get bigger every year."
The band is comprised of more than 30 musicians of all ages from the surrounding community under the direction of Smith.
The program will include the "National Anthem" and the piece "Arsenal" by Jan Van der Roost. Other musical pieces include "Whistling Rufus," a ragtime two-step march by Kerry Mills. This piece is arranged and revised by Smith.
To capture the nature of the street musician of that time period, Smith has added percussion parts as if the player found a cardboard box and improvised a type of snare drum part before the drums enter for the first time.
Due to the simplicity of the piece, a very challenging piccolo solo, also composed by Smith, has been added to the march.
The band will next perform "Festive Dance from Faust," "Footlifter March," and the "Armed Forces Salute." "This song will recognize our veterans present from all branches of the Armed Services," Smith said.
Closing the concert will be "Them Basses," "Independentia," "The Governor's March" and "Foshay Tower Washington Memorial March."
The concert will conclude with J.P. Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever."
The Meridian Community College Community Band will perform their annual Patriotic Concert Saturday at noon at Bonita Lakes Mall's center court. Admission is free. Musicians include:
Flutes
Theresa Griffith
Judy Johnson
Maria Miller
Bliss Savell
Sue Shoffiett (piccolo)
Laura Bryan
Bassoon
Sabina Ivy
Bb Clarinets
Erin Elliott (principal)
Joe Covington
Melinda James
Margaret Lambert
Daniel Lanterman
Gene Damon
John Weems
Bass Clarinet
Tom Fair
Alto Saxophones
Jason Alford
David Johnson
Joseph Lamberth
Tenor Saxophones
Merton Miller
Trumpet
Amy Elliott
J. B. Griffith
Ron Widener
Lavelle Woodrick
French Horns
Patti Coxwell
Bobbie Gibson
Kathleen Graham
Josh Landrum
Trombones
Bill Drinkwater
Michael Eubanks
Jimmy C. Thomas
Baritones
Ron Smith
Tubas
Wayne Benn
Bob Elliott
Jim Wilson
Tympani
Scott Kratzer
Percussion
Adam Pickett
Mark Primeaux
Sarah Terral