Music at the Summit Adult Band Institute goes ‘On Parade’ in Breckenridge

Although you won’t see any marching, the participants of Music at the Summit Adult Band Institute will be “on parade” at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge on Sunday, June 28. The concert, titled “On Parade,” will feature something for everyone, with symphonic, popular and patriotic band music.

The concert will begin with the traditional playing of both the American and U.K. national anthems, in deference to the institute’s British conductor Dr. Graham O. Jones. Highlights of the concert include Gustav Holst’s First Suite in E-flat for Military Band; “Black Jack March,” by Fred K. Huffer; and Edwin Franko Goldman’s “On Parade,” for which the concert is themed.

The inspired “O Magnum Mysterium,” by Moren Lauridsen, affirms the glory of Christ’s birth, while “Colonial Airs and Dances,” by Robert Jager, explores songs from colonial America in five movements. On the lighter side, the band will perform “Bohemian Rhapsody” by rock ’n’ roll band Queen and John Edmondson’s arrangement of Dixieland-style “Clarinet Marmalade.”

The concert will climax with a spirited rendition of “A Klezmer Tribute,” featuring guest soloist Carl Topilow playing his famous red clarinet. Topilow is well-known in the Summit County area as the conductor of the National Repertory Orchestra. The concert will finish with its usual rousing rendition of John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

Band camp for adults

Music at the Summit made its first appearance last year in Breckenridge as an adult band camp. This year, Summit Concert Band revamped the camp slightly, presenting Music at the Summit Adult Band Institute from Wednesday, June 24, through Sunday, June 28.

“Yes, we’re now we’re institutionalized,” said Sandy Cleveland, founder, past president and tenor saxophonist for the Summit Concert Band, with a smile. “We’re very proud to be involved with this event.”

Music at the Summit Adult Band Institute is the brainchild of Summit Concert Band director Lt. Col. (Ret.) Beth Steele. She developed the concept and put it into action, along with help from Summit Concert Band members and musicians from around the world. She serves as the institute’s director and will be conducting the Klezmer tribute at the final concert.

“We wanted to expand the scope of the institute with an eye on future improvements and expansions,” Steele said. “Even this year, we’ve added Ensemble Coaching classes and will present a Saturday afternoon concert of small ensembles in downtown Breckenridge. The program will be decided on as the classes progress, so it should be a great variety of music and groups.”

“Ensemble Escapades” will be held Saturday, June 27, at 3 p.m. at Blue River Plaza on Main Street in Breckenridge. Anticipated groups include flute ensemble, clarinet quartet, saxophone quintet, brass quintet or choir, and you never know what the percussionists might do.

“It’s like band camp in high school but without the curfew,” Steele said of the institute. “We took all the best of high school band camp — the camaraderie, great music and education — and added the freedoms of adulthood.”

About the musicians

The adult musicians attending the institute come from more than 17 states and will take part in rehearsals under Jones’ direction. Jones recently retired from the British Army after a career spanning nearly 40 years. He retired as the Senior Director of Music, Household Division and Director of Music, Coldstream Guards, a position unequaled throughout military music in Great Britain. He was made a member of the British Empire by Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace for outstanding service to military music in 1993 and retired from military service in 2012. Jones will be conducting the band for rehearsals and the “On Parade” concert on Sunday afternoon.

Topilow, renowned founder and conductor of the Cleveland Pops Orchestra and the National Repertory Orchestra, also will join the institute as a special clarinet soloist. Under Steele’s baton and performing on his famous red clarinet, Topilow will present what promises to be a very spirited klezmer tribute.

The internationally-acclaimed clinicians for the Adult Band Institute include Alaunde Copley-Woods (flutes), Sue Neff (double reeds), Dr. Linda Shea (woodwinds), Margaret Banton (saxophones), Carol Doemel (high brass), Chandra Cervantes (French horns), Gregory Harper (trombones), Dr. Richard Morgan (low brass) and Scott C. Vincent (percussion). These clinicians will be responsible for leading sectionals, master classes and ensemble coaching.

For more information about Music at the Summit Adult Band Institute, the “On Parade” concert, “Ensemble Escapades” or the Summit Concert Band, call (970) 333-4664 or visit http://www.musicatthesummit.com or http://www.summitconcertband.org.