Festival Brass
The Festival Brass will present the grand opening concert of the 9th annual White Lake Chamber Music Festival on Friday, August 3. Well-known and loved Grand Rapids Symphony conductor, John Varineau, will lead 12 of the finest musicians at this stunning 7:30 PM concert at the 1st Congregational Church of Muskegon, 1201 Jefferson St.
Tickets are only $10 and are available in advance at the Book Nook & Java Shop (8726 Ferry St., Montague, 231-894-5333), on-line at Eventbrite.com, and at the door.
Program organizer and Personnel Manager Pam Smitter, a highly-respected, connected, and accomplished trumpet player, has brought together major brass performers that are members of or performed with: the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Philharmonic, Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Grant Park Orchestra, Northwest Indiana Symphony, West Michigan Symphony, and Grand Rapids Symphony. This performance will include the Alexander Lamont Miller – Fanfare, Gabrielle’s Canzon duodecimi toni, Paul Keen’s arrangement of Shenandoah and Debussy’s Jimbo’s Lullaby, Monteverdi’s Deus in adjutorium, Londoner in New York – Echoes of Harlem, Mood Indigo, and other great works!
Tickets are only $10 and are available in advance at the Book Nook & Java Shop (8726 Ferry St., Montague, 231-894-5333), on-line at Eventbrite.com, and at the door.
Program organizer and Personnel Manager Pam Smitter, a highly-respected, connected, and accomplished trumpet player, has brought together major brass performers that are members of or performed with: the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Philharmonic, Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Grant Park Orchestra, Northwest Indiana Symphony, West Michigan Symphony, and Grand Rapids Symphony. This performance will include the Alexander Lamont Miller – Fanfare, Gabrielle’s Canzon duodecimi toni, Paul Keen’s arrangement of Shenandoah and Debussy’s Jimbo’s Lullaby, Monteverdi’s Deus in adjutorium, Londoner in New York – Echoes of Harlem, Mood Indigo, and other great works!
Festival Brass
Conductor:
John Varineau
Trumpets:
Michael Brozick - Principal Trumpet of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra; member of the Elgin, Kalamazoo, and Chicago Philharmonic Symphony Orchestras; studied as a Fulbright Fellow at the Stätliche Hochschule für Musik in Detmold, Germany; has performed as substitute musician with the Chicago, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee Symphonies and the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Karen Donnelly - Principal Trumpet of the National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada; former Principal Trumpet of Orchestra London (Canada); has performed with the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, Rideau Lakes Brass Quintet, and the Capital BrassWorks; teaches at University of Ottawa and given master classes in Switzerland, Mexico, China, United States, United Kingdom and Canada.
David Haglund - Retired after a 25 year career as Master Sergeant of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band; former Director of Bands at Garden City HS and Northern Michigan University; former member of the West Michigan, Kalamazoo, and Lansing Symphony Orchestras; currently a free-lance performer in Washington D.C; is a Muskegon native.
Pamela Smitter - Principal Trumpet of the West Michigan Symphony; member of the Kalamazoo Symphony; soloist with HornPipes! [trumpet and organ duo]; former Principal Trumpet of Orquesta Sinfónica Venezuela [in Caracas] and Orquesta Sinfónica de Maracaibo [Venezuela]; former faculty at Indiana Purdue University on Fort Wayne campus, Hope College, and Grand Valley State University; is a Spring Lake native.
Horns:
Greg Bassett - Member of West Michigan and Holland Symphony Orchestras; professor of philosophy [adjunct] at Hope College; former member of the Olympic Brass Quintet, Cleveland Opera Orchestra, and Erie Philharmonic; former Music Director of the Solon Opera Orchestra, Chagrin Valley Chamber Orchestra, and Fairview Park Band.
Michael Wright - Lives and works in Whitehall as Music/Choir teacher at Whitehall Middle & High School, and is in demand as a substitute horn performer in West Michigan, Holland, Midland, Lansing, Alma, Saginaw, Flint, and Jackson Symphony Orchestras.
Trombones:
Kip Hickman - Principal Trombone in the West Michigan and Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestras; member of KSO Brass Quintet and the Kalamazoo Brass; has also performed with the Detroit and Grand Rapids Symphonies, Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra, and Detroit Chamber Winds; teaches at Crescendo Academy of Music and KSO’s Kids in Tune after school program.
Paul Keen - Worked in the recording industry for more than 20 years as composer/arranger/low brass performer with Hanna Barbara studios for approximately 1500 cartoon episodes, motion pictures, live television, commercials and more; performed in big bands including Buddy Rich, Louis Bellson, and Don Ellis; played in Reno with many big acts including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Robert Goulet; was former traveling music conductor for Holiday on Ice; in Grand Rapids is now currently involved as composer/performer/arranger for several area ensembles, including Hark Up Ministries, Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, Civic Theater Pit Orchestra, and Antiphon Brass; teaches at Saint Cecilia Music Center.
Evan Clifton - Member in the West Michigan and Battle Creek Symphonies; a performing artist and clinician for Edwards Instrument Company and Denis Wick London; has worked as substitute musician for The Cleveland Orchestra, Grand Rapids Symphony, and Kalamazoo Symphony.
Tuba:
Robert Whaley - Has been Principal Tubist of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra for 52 years; is Professor Emeritus of Tuba in the School of Music at Western Michigan University; performs frequently as a member of West Michigan Brassworks chamber ensemble.
Timpani/Percussion:
Mark Guthrie - Principal Timpanist and Artist in Residence of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra; on faculty of Kalamazoo College; adjunct instructor for Western Michigan University; member of the Bellingham Festival Orchestra.
Organ:
Nick Palmer - Composer and arranger, choral conductor, organist and pianist; freelance work involves performing on stage, writing commissioned pieces for concert and liturgy, creating digital instrument tracks for general media use, and underscoring larger media projects; currently works as Music Director for St. John's Episcopal in Grand Haven, Michigan and teaches at Muskegon Community College.
Program and Personnel Manager
Pamela Smitter
Conductor:
John Varineau
Trumpets:
Michael Brozick - Principal Trumpet of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra; member of the Elgin, Kalamazoo, and Chicago Philharmonic Symphony Orchestras; studied as a Fulbright Fellow at the Stätliche Hochschule für Musik in Detmold, Germany; has performed as substitute musician with the Chicago, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee Symphonies and the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Karen Donnelly - Principal Trumpet of the National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada; former Principal Trumpet of Orchestra London (Canada); has performed with the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, Rideau Lakes Brass Quintet, and the Capital BrassWorks; teaches at University of Ottawa and given master classes in Switzerland, Mexico, China, United States, United Kingdom and Canada.
David Haglund - Retired after a 25 year career as Master Sergeant of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band; former Director of Bands at Garden City HS and Northern Michigan University; former member of the West Michigan, Kalamazoo, and Lansing Symphony Orchestras; currently a free-lance performer in Washington D.C; is a Muskegon native.
Pamela Smitter - Principal Trumpet of the West Michigan Symphony; member of the Kalamazoo Symphony; soloist with HornPipes! [trumpet and organ duo]; former Principal Trumpet of Orquesta Sinfónica Venezuela [in Caracas] and Orquesta Sinfónica de Maracaibo [Venezuela]; former faculty at Indiana Purdue University on Fort Wayne campus, Hope College, and Grand Valley State University; is a Spring Lake native.
Horns:
Greg Bassett - Member of West Michigan and Holland Symphony Orchestras; professor of philosophy [adjunct] at Hope College; former member of the Olympic Brass Quintet, Cleveland Opera Orchestra, and Erie Philharmonic; former Music Director of the Solon Opera Orchestra, Chagrin Valley Chamber Orchestra, and Fairview Park Band.
Michael Wright - Lives and works in Whitehall as Music/Choir teacher at Whitehall Middle & High School, and is in demand as a substitute horn performer in West Michigan, Holland, Midland, Lansing, Alma, Saginaw, Flint, and Jackson Symphony Orchestras.
Trombones:
Kip Hickman - Principal Trombone in the West Michigan and Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestras; member of KSO Brass Quintet and the Kalamazoo Brass; has also performed with the Detroit and Grand Rapids Symphonies, Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra, and Detroit Chamber Winds; teaches at Crescendo Academy of Music and KSO’s Kids in Tune after school program.
Paul Keen - Worked in the recording industry for more than 20 years as composer/arranger/low brass performer with Hanna Barbara studios for approximately 1500 cartoon episodes, motion pictures, live television, commercials and more; performed in big bands including Buddy Rich, Louis Bellson, and Don Ellis; played in Reno with many big acts including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Robert Goulet; was former traveling music conductor for Holiday on Ice; in Grand Rapids is now currently involved as composer/performer/arranger for several area ensembles, including Hark Up Ministries, Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, Civic Theater Pit Orchestra, and Antiphon Brass; teaches at Saint Cecilia Music Center.
Evan Clifton - Member in the West Michigan and Battle Creek Symphonies; a performing artist and clinician for Edwards Instrument Company and Denis Wick London; has worked as substitute musician for The Cleveland Orchestra, Grand Rapids Symphony, and Kalamazoo Symphony.
Tuba:
Robert Whaley - Has been Principal Tubist of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra for 52 years; is Professor Emeritus of Tuba in the School of Music at Western Michigan University; performs frequently as a member of West Michigan Brassworks chamber ensemble.
Timpani/Percussion:
Mark Guthrie - Principal Timpanist and Artist in Residence of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra; on faculty of Kalamazoo College; adjunct instructor for Western Michigan University; member of the Bellingham Festival Orchestra.
Organ:
Nick Palmer - Composer and arranger, choral conductor, organist and pianist; freelance work involves performing on stage, writing commissioned pieces for concert and liturgy, creating digital instrument tracks for general media use, and underscoring larger media projects; currently works as Music Director for St. John's Episcopal in Grand Haven, Michigan and teaches at Muskegon Community College.
Program and Personnel Manager
Pamela Smitter