I just graduated from GCC and figured American Visions would be a great piece to use as “real world” conducting experience. I’m a member of the Beaver County Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and I asked to conduct a piece. Our director said it couldn’t be ordered in time to do it this year. Unscathed, I asked Doc if I could borrow it, and luckily he said yes. I remember I enjoyed playing it a few years back when Doc debuted it, and I was very happy that the tenor sax actually had an interesting part. Hopefully this band full of retired directors will enjoy it also. Wish me luck and thanks for a great, challenging piece!

I have been trying to reach you concerning your submission to Wingert-Jones, Festival and Ballade for Winds. We are very interested and would like to talk to you about publishing it. You can reach me at my email listed above and we can make arrangements to call and talk about it.
Thanks for thinking of us and I look forward to hearing from you.

Ron

I am working on getting the 2007 PMEA All-State Performance posted on-line. I will give you a holler when it is up!

Thanks again for the kind words. Please let me know when your concert is – if you have Skype at school I would enjoy the opportunity to visit with either of your ensembles. Fanfare on Themes by Davenport has a special place in my heart, and I am glad you enjoyed it. Good luck, and thank you for writing!

My bands (Marion Center Area) are currently working on two of your pieces. My jr high is doing your Irish Jig and it’s starting to come together. My high school band is doing American Visions and they seem to be really enjoying it. Well let’s put it this way, when I’m writing up the rehearsal list on the board there is always someone who shouts out “American Visions!”

Just a note to let you know the Columbia [Missouri] Community Band performed “American Visions” yesterday at our Mother’s Day Concert. The patriotic theme of your compositin fit nicely with our program. Although the programming was centered on compositons for ‘mothers’, the dedication to your father gave them ‘equal time.’

I think the members of the band enjoyed working on the selection. Many of these adult musicians have not performed a lot of ‘multi-meter’ music, and were challenged just enough by “American Visions.”

The rest of the program was:

The Star Spangled Banner/arr. Sousa
Marche Slave/Tschaikowsky, arr. Laurendeau
Lietstod/Wagner, arr. Bainum
Flight/Claude T. Smith
Calendaries-Spring/Cheetham
The Fairest of the Fair/Sousa
With Quiet Courage/Daehn
The Belle of the Ball/Anderson
My Fair Lady Selections/arr. Bennett
Beguine for Band/Osser

Thanks for your contribution to the literature for bands!

Paul Copenhaver
Assistant Conductor, Columbia Community Band
President, Missouri Music Educators Association
Band Director, St. Pius X School

I had the pleasure of performing “Colors Ever True” with the Sharpsville Band last night. Great piece! I think you really captured what you were going for – a celebration of Renee’s life. Having known and worked with her as one of my students, it was a really fitting tribute. Great work!

Doug