2006 News/Home Page Archive
Listed in reverse chronological order. Does not include regular features like "The President's Corner" or the WASBE Newsletter.
Henk van Lijnschooten (1928–2006)
Former WASBE Board member and Dutch composer Henk van Lijnschooten died on Wednesday, 1 November 2006 at the age of 78. He was greatly sought after as an adjudicator for band contests and for conducting clinics and workshops, thus having tremendous influence on a whole generation of European band conductors. He was also active in organizing bands for senior citizens in the Netherlands, especially in later years, and played an active roll in several national and international wind band organisations, including WASBE on whose Board of Directors he served from 1987 to 1993. Edition Molenaar published over sixty of his compositions for band under his own name and almost as many more under the pseudonyms Michael van Delft and Ted Huggens.
Register Now for the 2007 Conference
The WASBE 2007 Conference web site has all the information you need to get set for the conference this July in Killarney, including:
- online registration and hotel booking,
- information for prospective members of the International Youth Wind Orchestra,
- Fringe festival information,
- Names of the ensembles confirmed to be performing at the Conference.
IYWO Address Correction
The International Youth Wind Orchestra (IYWO) application form circulated with the September Newsletter has an incorrect email address at the end of the application page. The portion after the @ sign should be "hotmail.com".
New Executive Director Selected
At its meeting in Killarney, Ireland in July, the WASBE Board selected Donald DeRoche to replace Leon Bly as the WASBE Executive Director when Leon leaves this position in July 2007. The selection was made after a careful review of the applications from several very well qualified candidates. Don has been active in WASBE for many years. He has been a member of the Artistic Planning Committee for recent conferences and along with Rick Greenwood has put together the clinics, research sessions and master classes for the 2007 Conference in Killarney.
In order for Don to be able to concentrate on the administrative duties of running WASBE, a great deal of the clerical work that Leon had being doing will be handled by Biblioservice Gelderland in The Netherlands starting in July 2007. For example, Biblioservice Gelderland will be responsible for storing and mailing WASBE Journals and back issues of WASBE Newsletters, printing WASBE flyers and other promotional materials and mailing said materials to those interested in becoming members of WASBE. Since Biblioservice has a staff that is able to speak several languages, it will also be helpfull to Don in facilitating translations of documents and articles for the WASBE Newsletter.
Dallas Wind Symphony Contest Winners
The Dallas Wind Symphony has announced the winners of its 2006-2007 Brass Fanfares Competition. This year 84 fanfares were submitted from all over the United States. The winning fanfares will be performed at the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, Texas on the dates listed below:
26 September 2006
Fanfare for a Gathering by Dennis Stafira, Elmhurst, IL
24 October 2006
Hand of Friendship Fanfare by Benno P. Fritz, Oak Hill, VA
14 November 2006
Three-Ring Wind-Up for Brass by Brian Casey, Greeley, CO
30 January 2007
Fanfares by Sergey Khvoshchinsky, Champlin MN
13 February 2007
High Maintenance by Thomas P. Rohrer, Logan, UT
13 March 2007
Fanfare for Enduring Freedom by Scott McKenzie, APO, AE
17 April 2007
Fanfare for Freedom by Harry T. Bulow, Beaumont, TX
Appeal from Ecuador to Replace Stolen Brass Instruments
On 20 July 2006, The Brass Band of Ecuador (Quito) was the victim of a terrible theft of more than $20,000 in instruments, computers, and equipment. The eleven instruments stolen were acquired after a long period of appeal for support. They came from Switzerland, Germany, and the United States of America with much effort on the part of private individuals, organizations, and embassies over the last six years. The Brass Band requests any possible help in acquiring replacement brass and percussion instruments so that this project, which has so greatly benefited the Quito community, may continue to operate.
The fundamental goal of the Fundacion Brass Band del Ecuador is to offer to young people of limited resources the possibility to study music.
German Section Commissioning Project
A consortium headed by the German WASBE Section will commission a work for symphonic band from Axel Ruoff. It will be premiered by the Heilbronn Philharmonic Winds during the 2nd German Wind Forum in Stuttgart, Germany, on 3 March 2007. An invitation to participate in the consortium is being offered to all WASBE members by the German WASBE Section.
The work will be scored for symphonic band, be grade 5 in difficulty and have a duration of 10 to 12 minutes. There is no minimum contribution. Every consortium member who contributes a minimum of € 50.00 / US$ 70.00 / GBP 40.00 will be mentioned in the printed edition of the score and will receive a copy of the score signed by the composer. The deadline for participating in the consortium is 1 September 2006.
June (Printed) Newsletter Delayed
Due to unforeseen problems, the mailing of the June WASBE Newsletter was delayed by about one month. Members will receive the Newsletter sometime in July. You don't have to wait until then to read it, however. As always, you can download the latest Newsletter from the link on the left-hand side of this page. It is in PDF format, so you will require Adobe Reader (available for free), Adobe Acrobat or Preview (included with Mac OS X) to read it.
New Summer Conducting Seminar List Available
It was just over two decades ago when Dr. Vondis Miller (who would later serve as President of WASBE) made the summer conducting workshop concept a vital part of the wind band scene with his revolutionary 3-week conducting intensive at the University of Calgary. While workshops of that length have given way to shorter ones, the number of offerings has grown exponentially in the intervening years. It was time, we thought, to publish a list.
You can access this new list from the News portion of the web site — just click on Conducting Seminar List in the red submenu above.
If your workshop is not listed, please e-mail the webmaster (wasbe at jazzace.ca). We have already made additions since the list was first posted.
Band Composition Competition Announced
The 4th Annual International “Romualdo Marenco” Competition for Band Composition has been announced with one prize of 5000 Euros to be awarded. Entries are to be sent to M° Maurizio Billi before 31 July 2006. The entrance fee is 60 Euros.
Hodkinson at Atlantic Center for the Arts
Sydney Hodkinson will serve as master composer at the Atlantic Center for the Arts from 30 October to 9 November 2006. Since 1982, the Atlantic Center’s residency program has provided artists from all disciplines with spaces to live, work, and collaborate during three-week residences. Located four miles from the east coast beaches of central Florida, the pine and palmetto wooded environment contains studios for music, painting, sculpture, writing, and dance, as well as a resource library, a black box theater, and a digital computer lab. More information on the residency program and how to apply is available in this news article and at www.atlanticcenterforthearts.org. The application deadline for the residency with Hodkinson is 30 June.
Clarinet and Horn Spots Open for World of Winds
Most of the chairs have been filled for the inaugural World of Winds international youth wind orchestral, but there are still a couple of openings for Clarinet and Horn players. World of Winds will meet in Tronheim, Norway from 25 July to 2 August for rehearsals and then play concerts in Norway and Germany from 2 until 6 August 2006. The principal conductor will be Christian Lindberg, chief conductor of the Nordic Chamber Orchestra and the Swedish Wind Ensemble.
For more information, visit www.world-of-winds.org. If you are interested, please contact the organizers as soon as possible.
WASBE Members Act as Clinicians at Seminar in Bogotá
In this exclusive online article, John Stanley reports on the many things that will be happening in Bogotá, Columbia from 21 to 23 June at the 12th International Seminar for Bands. WASBE members acting as international clincians include Past President Dennis Johnson, Special Projects Editor John Stanley, Teaching Music through Performance in Band editor Richard Miles, and Buenos Aires conductor Gustavo Fontana.
Membership Dues Payment Changes
Due to changes in the location of our bank accounts, American Express is not willing to allow us to continue accepting their credit card. Thus, effective immediately, the only credit cards accepted are VISA and MasterCard. Members can also pay by cheque/check in certain currencies. Bank transfer is also possible — contact the Treasurer for more details.
Seeking Candidates for Executive Director
The WASBE Board is now seeking candidates for the position of Executive Director with duties beginning in July 2007. The WASBE Board wishes to appoint the new Executive Director in July 2006 so that he/she can work with the current Executive Director for one year to learn the job.
Among other qualifications, candidates should have excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, extensive knowledge of the international wind band/ensemble scene, good computer skills, a working knowledge of Roberts Rules of Order and budget planning, and good organizational and record keeping skills. Preferably candidates will be members of WASBE well familiar with its goals and objectives and with some knowledge of its history.
The application deadline is 30 May 2006.
Warren Benson Commemoration Concert
Dr. James Undercofler, Dean of the Eastman School of Music and the Benson family extend to all WASBE members and friends a cordial invitation to attend a special celebration of the life of Warren Benson on Sunday, 23 April 2006 at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. The Inaugural Warren and Patricia Benson Forum on Creativity will commence at 14:00 (2:00 p.m.) in the Howard Hanson Hall. A concert of Warren’s music will be performed at 15:00 (3:00 p.m.) in Kilbourn Hall. A reception will follow immediately after the concert at the Cominsky Promenade. All attending are asked to RSVP at +1-585-274-1040. Hotel accommodations are available at the Rochester Hyatt. For special rates guests may telephone +1-800-233-1234 and ask for the “Warren Benson Concert” group block.
New WASBE 2007 Info Available
There have been a number of recent updates to the WASBE 2007 Conference web site. New information includes:
- Hotels and rates (yes, confirmed hotel rates for Conference attendees in July 2007)
- WASBE/World Projects Sponsorship
- Online Registration opening dates
- Photo album from the recent Midwest Clinic in Chicago.
World of Winds
During Felix Hauswirth’s term as WASBE President, WASBE and Jeunesses Musicales International decided to establish an international youth wind orchestra for pre-professionals similar to the international youth symphony orchestra that has been sponsored by Jeunesse Musicales for several years. After several years of planning, the first session will be hosted by the Norwegian Band Federation from 25 July to 2 August 2006. The worldwide wind orchestra, now named the World of Winds (WoW), will meet in Tronheim, Norway from 25 July to 2 August for rehearsals and then play concerts in Norway and Germany from 2 until 6 August 2006.
The principal conductor will be Christian Lindberg, chief conductor of the Nordic Chamber Orchestra and the Swedish Wind Ensemble. World renowned trumpeter Ole Edvard Antonsen will be featured soloist. The tenative program includes compositions by Igor Stravinsky, Edgard Varese, Nicholas Maw, Christian Lindgren, Hugo Alfvén, and Bernard Adam Ferrero, as well as the world premiere of a work by Olav Anton Thomessen.
The deadline for applying is 15 March 2006. For more information, audition materials and application forms, visit www.world-of-winds.org.
Call for Research Sessions
The Artistic Planning Committee for the 2007 WASBE Conference in Ireland is calling for proposals for research sessions. Twelve sessions of one hour each will be available. There are three topics that will be highlighted at the Conference, and research sessions in these areas are encouraged. The three areas are: 1) percussion, 2) winds with chorus, 3) “cross over” works in which winds expand their role to join with strings, chamber groups, etc. All proposals are due by 15 April 2006.
©2007 WASBE