Life

Hendersonville Commuity Band Patriotic Pops Concert

By Crystal Smith, Published: May 9, 2012

Take a break from election year politics when Hendersonville Community Band presents PATRIOTIC POPS on at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 20, in Blue Ridge Community College Conference Hall in Flat Rock. Music Director/Conductor Winford Franklin leads the big concert band in an afternoon of music to remind us of what's best about this country.

There's something for everyone - stirring patriotic music, selections from Broadway and film, alto sax and trumpet solos, a pop tune from a choir of clarinets and the skirls of a bagpipe.

HCB will open with Claude T. Smith's "Navy Hymn - Eternal Father, Strong To Save," followed by "An American Elegy" composed by Frank Ticheli in memory of those who lost their lives at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. This performance marks thirteen years and one month after the tragic event which inspired this composition.

Movie buffs will be delighted to hear "Robin Hood Soundtrack Highlights" by Michael Kamen, arranged by Bocook. Broadway musical fans never get enough of "The Magic of Andrew Lloyd Webber." This Warren Barker arrangement includes "Superstar," "I Don't Know How To Love Him," "Don't Cry For Me Argentina," "Memory," and "Phantom of the Opera."

HCB remembers Big Band music with "A Tribute To Harry James," featuring Russ Sena in the trumpet solos. Sammy Nestico's arrangement includes "Ciribiribin," "The Mole," "You Made Me Love You," "Trumpet Blues," and "Cantabile." Sena has performed throughout Western North Carolina with the Russ Martin Ensemble, Blue Ridge Brass Quintet, The Incontinentals Blues Band and both the Community Jazz Band and Baroque Brass Ensemble at UNCA.

Woodsong Winds, a clarinet choir of sopranos, alto and basses, offers its unique sound in "Puttin' On The Ritz," an Arthur Frackenpohl arrangement of Irving Berlin's classic. Clarinetists from Hendersonville, Brevard, Asheville and Greenville play in this ensemble which was formed in January 2009 by its conductor Fern Barber. Woodsong Winds has performed for many organizations in Henderson, Transylvania and Polk counties.

Joel Helfand from the clarinet section picks up his alto sax for the solo in Thomas Reed's arrangement of "Radio Days." Helfand, a former high school band director who graduated from Chicago Musical College, has played professionally since he was 13 years old. Since moving to Hendersonville in 2005, he has performed with Hendersonville and Brevard Community Bands, Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra, Asheville Jazz Orchestra and the Uptown Jazz Quintet. Helfand has served as guest artist for many churches and synagogues, senior residences and club functions.

The skirling of the pipes signals the arrival of Pipe Major Joe Bailey of the Montreat Scottish Pipes and Drums. Bailey plays the bagpipe solo with the concert band in Jay Dawson's arrangement of "Amazing Grace."

Admission is $10 adults, students free. Tickets are available from band members, Laurel Park Wine Market, Hendersonville Visitors Information Center and at the door. Information at 828-696-2118 and www.hcbmusic.com