America's Hometown Band plays "Band Stars"

When Sunday, February 24, 2013
4:30pm to 12:42pm
Where Pruis Hall, Ball State University
What Music concerts, all-ages concerts, free concerts, america's hometown band

Contact: Roger McConnell                                                       Tel. 765-289-2041

Email: businessoffice@amhometownband.org

With a new year comes a new concert season and America’s Hometown Band will be kicking off their season at 4:30 p.m. on February 24 at Ball State University’s Pruis Hall. Their concert will be the first in the band’s 2013 concert season.

The show, aptly named “Band Stars,” will highlight some of the band’s most talented members in several featured pieces. Pianist Dr. Philip Cooley will perform George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and Will Frazier will play solo trombone to Arthur Pryor’s “Thoughts of Love.” Piccolo player Rachael Eldridge will also be highlighted in a rendition of Vivaldi’s “Concerto I n C Major.”

 Other feature pieces will include oboist Dr. Aryn Sweeney and saxophonist Dr. George Wolfe.

 A professor of saxophone at Ball State, Dr. Wolfe is a well-known performer who has played across North America and Europe. He has performed with such groups such as the United States Navy Band, The Indianapolis Children’s Choir, and the Royal Band of the Belgian Air Force, among others. He will be playing soprano saxophone on AHB’s performance of “Los Andes” by Adriana Isabel Figueroa Manas which he premiered with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra last year.

 Rounding out the night of star performances will be Dr. Aryn Sweeney’s presentation of “Concertante” by Emilie Paladilhe. Also a Ball State professor, Sweeney is the principal oboist for Muncie’s Symphony Orchestra as well as the Lexington Philharmonic. Sweeney has taught and performed with many artists around the world and in 2005 was prizewinner at the Barbirolli International Oboe Competition.

Other pieces AHB plans to perform include such favorites as “Amazing Grace,” “Star Wars,” and “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

The show is free and open to the public, in keeping with AHB’s stated mission of performing for “town and gown.” Upcoming performances include a St. Patrick’s Day performance, a first Thursday performance on May 2 at Vera Mae’s Bistro, as well as a Memorial Day service at Beech Grove Cemetery on May 27.

For questions regarding the upcoming performance or performances contact Roger McConnell. For more information regarding the band, visit their website at amhometownband.org or call 765-289-2041.