Columbus City Band

A holiday note from Steve:

Columbus City Band musicians,

Thank you for another wonderful concert. What a great way to close out the Fall season! I heard many nice comments following yesterday’s performance, and I am noticing several new faces among the audience at each concert. Apparently our mission is on track.

It is rather bittersweet to leave the Commons, as we have known it, for another venue, but, on the positive side, Asbury United Methodist is a very nice, well kept, acoustically sound, intimate performance area which other musical groups have found to be very satisfactory. We shall do fine there. Many thanks to Ted and the board of directors for their work in finding such a nice space.

January 7, 2008, will be our first rehearsal for the Winter cycle. We have great music lined up, much of it by request of your fellow musicians.

Washington Post March
Variations on a Korean Folk Song
Variation Overture
Tennessee Salute
Sweet Charity
Sounds of Hollywood
St. Louis Blues March
Puff the Magic Dragon (Tuba solo)
Passion Choral Variants
March Hongroise
Hymn to the Fallen
The Goldman Band March
Colossus of Columbia
Invictus
Golden Bear March

I will, no doubt, find some additional titles at the Midwest Band Clinic in Chicago next week.

Jo and I want to wish each of you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thanks for sharing your talent and enjoyment of music with so many others.

See you in January.

Congratulations to Shawn (trumpet) and his wife, Donna. A note from the new dad:

It seems that someone forgot to tell our son he wasn’t supposed to arrive until December. He arrived Thursday, Nov. 21, at 9:10 p.m. He was a little fella at only 5 lbs. 7 oz. and 18 inches long. He has wavy light brown hair and is almost always hungry (he got the appetite from Dad). … We decided to name him Jackson Levi Bentz. …
If any of you are interested, the Columbus City Band will be performing our Christmas concert at 2 p.m. on Dec. 9. at the Commons. One of the compositions to be performed is titled “Baby’s First Christmas.” I wrote this beginning in April, when we found out Donna was pregnant. Hopefully Donna and Jackson will be able to attend the concert. We ask that you keep us in your prayers as we face some interesting and exciting times ahead. What a Thanksgiving surprise and early Christmas present!

City band member Kristin Bear (flute) delivered a healthy baby boy. Riley Patrick Bear was born Friday, Feb. 15. Mommy and Baby are both doing great! They both send their wishes for today’s concert.

And thanks to Jessica Vogel for sending the good news!