Los Alamos Community Winds is one of three concert bands hosting the Association of Concert Bands annual convention in Santa Fe May 3-8. Courtesy image
NMACBC NEWS RELEASE
The New Mexico Association of Concert Bands Consortium (NMACBC): the Albuquerque Concert Band, the Los Alamos Community Winds, and the Santa Fe Concert Band are pleased to announce they will be hosting the Association of Concert Bands (ACB) annual convention in Santa Fe May 3 through May 8 at the Santa Fe Hilton Historic Plaza Hotel.
The ACB holds a national convention each year in a different location and hosted by a member band. The convention, originally to be held in New Mexico in 2021, was postponed until 2022, due to the Coronavirus pandemic. This year’s convention theme is Music for Life!
The convention is a 5-day conference where members of the ACB-band directors, musicians, and others in the music community-get together to play, learn, talk about music and exchange ideas on making music in a community band setting. The week includes educational seminars and clinics and performances by selected community bands. Attendees may participate in the Convention Band led by Captain Christina Muncey of the United States Air Force Band, Washington, D.C.
The conference offers opportunity for professional and fellow community band musicians, from all over the country, to meet and perform together. The conference also gives the public a chance to experience a variety of music from musicians and community bands from New Mexico and other states. Concerts given by the three host bands, the attending bands and the convention band will be free and open to the public. Everyone is welcome to attend these family friendly concerts! Young or young at heart, all will find plenty of fun music to brighten their day.
The convention has never been held in New Mexico and we are excited to bring musicians from all over the country to the Land of Enchantment for this event. There are seven bands that were chosen to perform at the convention. Please check out the NMACBC website for a schedule of the free concerts. http://www.acb2022.org
There will be performances by the three host bands, the Albuquerque Concert Band, The Los Alamos Community Winds and the Santa Fe Concert Band. There will also be a free performance by the Convention Band conducted by Captain Christina Muncey.
These seven bands were chosen from bands across the country that submitted audition tapes to a professional panel of musicians with the NMACBC.
• The Arizona Winds hail from Glendale, Arizona in the Phoenix area, and have been around since 1974. They have performed throughout Arizona and Southern California. Their conductor is retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, Rich Shelton. Col. Shelton has the honor of being the only conductor in the group’s history. Col. Shelton is one of the most highly decorated band commanders in the history of the AF Band Program.
• The Denver Concert Band in Colorado have been around since they were thought up by a bunch of friends in 1961. The band regularly performs in front of thousands of Coloradans every year. Jacinda Bouton has been conductor of the band since 1997. She is an active conductor, clinician and adjudicator throughout the Rocky Mtn. region.
• The Southwest Civic Winds from Durango, Colorado was founded in 2012. They have about 65 players from throughout the Four Corners area. Rhonda L. Muckerman has taught instrument and voice music, and has conducted professionally in Ohio, Michigan, Washington and Colorado since 1986 and has published her memoir,” Of Song and Water” in April of 2021.
• The Oregon Symphonic Band is traveling from Portland, Oregon to join us for the Convention. They formed in 1986 and have averaged sixty members since then. Dr. Burch-Pesses has been the conductor of the group since 1998. He is the author of “Canadian Band Music: A Qualitative Guide to Canadian Composers and Their Works for Band.”
• The Los Angeles Winds are from Los Angeles, California and are a 95-piece band that has been around since 1983. Membership is drawn from Los Angeles-based musicians, many of whom have performed with motion picture and television recording studio orchestras and entertainment-world headliners. Their conductor, Stephen Piazza has performed at the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center.
• The Woodland Park Wind Symphony from Woodland Park, Colorado have been in existence for over 25 years. Their motto is “We don’t audition you…you audition us.” They are a source of local “musical enrichment” for both performers and patrons of the Pikes Peak Area. Craig Harms, the groups conductor, has been with them since it’s inception. He is also a conductor of the Jazz Ensemble- “Swing Factory”.
• The Plano Community Band was founded in 1979 and is a volunteer organization made up of approximately 75 musicians from all walks of life who share a passion for music. The band performs two Formal Spring concerts and one Fall concert each year at the beautiful Eisemann Center in Richardson, TX; two concerts at the Plano Senior Center, and is best known for our Summer concerts at Haggard Park, in Old Downtown Plano,Texas.
We are honored to have wonderful guest artists and clinicians. Heading the lineup for the convention is conductor of the convention band, United States Air Force Captain Christina Muncey. Known world-wide for his jazz playing, trombonist Harry Watters will be headlining the convention. New Mexico will be well represented with talented clinicians Dr. Jennifer Lau-Flute, Dr. Eric Lau-Saxophone, Ryan Alexander Bloom, Percussion, Lori Lovato-Clarinet, and Elaine Heltman-Oboe. We are pleased to announce Dr. Richard White, Associate Professor of Tuba/Euphonium at UNM, will be our Keynote Speaker! Dr. White is the first African American to receive a Doctor of Music Performance in Tuba Performance.
• Captain Christina A. Muncey, We are pleased to announce that Captain Christina Muncey will be Conductor of the 2022 Music for Life Convention Band! Captain Christina A. Muncey is a flight commander for the Unites States Air Force Band, joint base Anacosta-Bolling, Washington, D.C. She serves as the Officer-in-Charge of the Concert Band, the Airmen of Note, Productions, and Recourses and Supply. Captain Muncey commissioned from Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama in April 2015. Prior to joining the Air Force, she served as Director of Bands at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. She held similar positions with the orchestra program at Colorado State University at Fort Collins, Colorado and served as Director of Instrumental Music at Wheat Ridge High School in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Captain Muncey holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and two degrees from Colorado State University: A Master of Music degree with a concentration in Orchestral Conducting, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education.
• Dr. Richard White, Tuba, is the Keynote Speaker of the 2022 Music for Life Convention. Dr. White began his tuba studies with Ed. Goldstein at age twelve at The Baltimore School for the Performing Arts, where he graduated with honors. He then went to the Peabody Conservatory of Music to study with David Fedderly (Principal Tubist, Baltimore Symphony) where he received his bachelor’s degree. He continued his studies at Indiana University receiving both his master’s and Doctoral degrees. Dr. White is currently in his fifth season as Principal Tubist of the New Mexico Philharmonic. Richard enjoys teaching at the University of New Mexico, where he is Associate Professor of Tuba/Euphonium, and Associate Director of the Spirit Marching Band. Dr. White has performed with the Canadian Brass Quintet, Indiana University Faculty Brass Quintet, New Mexico Symphony Brass Quintet, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic, Santa Fe Opera, Sphinx Symphony, Music in the Mountains, a summer festival located in beautiful Durango, CO, and many others. Dr. White has had a passionate interest in motivational speaking. That dream has recently materialized itself with the launching of his website rawtuba.com.
• Harry Watters, jazz trombonist, travels nationally and internationally as a Jupiter Artist. His numerous Summit Records releases include the popular Love Songs and the three critically acclaimed Brothers discs with trumpeter Ken Watters. After graduation from the University of North Texas, Harry spent four years touring and recording with the renowned Dukes of Dixieland. Watters has performed with Doc Severinsen, Al Hirt, Pete Fountain, Kevin Mahogany, Wycliffe Gordon, Lou Rawls, Maureen McGovern, Carl Fontana, and the Boston Brass. In addition, Harry has appeared as a featured soloist with the Syracuse Symphony, the Baton Rouge Symphony, the Louisiana Philharmonic, the U.S. Army Orchestra, and many more. He has presented his “Power Practicing” seminar at the American Band College, the Jazz Education Network National Conference, the Association of Concert Bands’ National Convention, the
University of North Texas, New Mexico State University, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Tennessee, to name a few!
• Dr. Eric Lau, saxophonist, has given concerts throughout the United States as well as in Europe, Puerto Rico, and Brazil. As a concerto soloist, Dr. Lau has been featured at both National and Regional North American Saxophone Alliance Conferences as well as with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, the University of New Mexico Wind Symphony, the Hope College Wind Ensemble, the Michigan State University Symphony Orchestra, and the Michigan State University Wind Symphony. In addition to his solo performances, Dr. Lau is a regular performer with the Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra, the New Mexico Philharmonic, the Santa Fe Symphony, and the Santa Fe Opera. A dedicated teacher, Eric Lau serves as Associate Professor of Saxophone at the University of New Mexico. He received the Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from Michigan State University and his undergraduate degree in saxophone performance from Louisiana State University.
Music Faculty
• Dr. Jennifer Lau is a Lecturer in Theory and Composition and teaches Music Appreciation at UNM. She is currently also President of the Albuquerque Flute Association, having served in other positions since 2003. She previously served on the faculties of Texas A&M University Commerce, Spring Arbor University, Alma College, and the University of Michigan-Flint. While teaching at the University of New Mexico, Dr. Lau has performed with the New Mexico Winds, the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque, El Paso Opera, Opera Southwest, and the New Mexico Woodwind Quintet. Dr. Lau performed at the 2003 National Flute Association Convention as a winner of the Masterclass Competition and served on the 2004 and 2006 National Flute Association Newly Published Music Competition Adjudication Committee. Dr. Lau completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 2003 at Michigan State University as a recipient of the Dissertation Completion Fellowship.
• Lori Lovato is Principal Clarinetist for The Santa Fe Symphony. She also performs with New Mexico Philharmonic, Sphinx Symphony in Detroit, Performance Santa Fe Orchestra, San Juan Symphony, Opera Southwest Orchestra and Alter Ego Jazz Trio, and is a founding member of the New Mexico Woodwind Quintet. Lori has appeared with the Napa Valley Festival del Sole, Albuquerque Chamber Soloists, Music at Angel Fire, Chamber Music Albuquerque, Chatter, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, Santa Fe New Music, the Orquesta Sinfónica de Monterrey, Mexico, and the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players. Lori is a graduate of Northwestern University and the University of New Mexico. Prior to her performing career, she was the band and orchestra director at West Mesa and Cibola High Schools in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Currently she maintains a private clarinet studio and performs musical outreach programs throughout the community.
• Elaine Heltman, The Santa Fe Symphony’s Principal Oboist, hails from Saddle Brook, New Jersey, and graduated from Ithaca College School of Music. In 1981, Heltman’s career as a professional oboist was ignited when she was appointed to the Filarmónica de Caracas, Venezuela. In 1982, the Heltmans moved to Israel to perform and teach. Elaine performed regularly with the Jerusalem Radio Symphony and Israel Chamber Orchestra, and taught oboe at the Beersheva Conservatory and at Kibbutz Ein Charod. In 1983 they moved to New Mexico with dreams of starting their own orchestra, a dream realized in 1984. With the help of some fellow musicians, they created the unique orchestral model that is the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra.
She played in Albuquerque for many years with the New Mexico Woodwind Quintet and was Principal Oboe with the Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque.
Elaine is the adjunct oboe teacher at the New Mexico School for the Arts and works by day as a Project Manager at the State Land Office in the Office of General Counsel.
• Ryan Alexander Bloom. Ryan began playing drums in 1996. In 2007 Ryan earned a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Colorado under the supervision of Dr. Douglas Walter. As a performer, Ryan has worked in the studio or on stage with Alma Llama, Errant, Niwot Timberline Symphony Orchestra, Mordheim, Amish Warfare, Amara Grace, Immortal Sÿnn, Bloodstrike, and Havok. While in Bloodstrike, the band signed with Redefining Darkness Records and he played on the albums In Death We Rot (2015) and Execution of Violence (2017). As a teacher, Ryan has worked with hundreds of students in Washington, Colorado, and New Mexico by way of public schools, private schools, and out of his own home studio. He currently teaches the drum line at Los Alamos High School, gives weekly clinics at Los Alamos Middle School, and teaches private lessons in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Ryan’s instructional drum books are published by Hudson Music including: The Complete Double Bass Drumming
Explained (2016), Live Drum & Bass (2018), Encyclopedia Rudimentia (2019), and Subdivide and Conquer (2021). He has also written a non-fiction book The Forgotten Side of Bandelier (2019).
There will be a very special event that we would like to announce: Not only will the Canadian Brass be giving a clinic and lecture demonstration and a master class with the conventioneers, they will be giving a performance, separate from the convention, on Friday, May 6th, 2022. The concert will be open to the public with the purchase of a ticket. The concert will be held at the Lensic Performing Arts Center. For
tickets please visit the Lensic website at https://lensic.org.
The Canadian Brass truly have an international reputation as one of the most popular brass ensembles today. They have earned the distinction of being “the world’s most famous brass group.” Masters of concert presentations, Canadian Brass has developed a uniquely engaging stage presence and rapport with audiences. Each of their concerts will show the full range from trademark Baroque and Dixieland tunes to new compositions and arrangements created especially for them – from formal classical presentation to music served up with lively dialogue and theatrical effects. The hallmark of any Canadian Brass performance is entertainment, spontaneity, virtuosity and, most of all, fun – but never at the expense of the music. Whatever the style, the music is central and performed with utmost dedication, skill and excellence.
The host bands of the 2022 Association of Concert Bands Convention:
The Albuquerque Concert Band has been bringing great concert band music to the Albuquerque metro area for over 50 years and has over 80 musicians. The Albuquerque Concert Band is an all-volunteer ensemble of adult musicians that rehearse and perform throughout the year. The band performs 15–17 concerts a year. Rehearsals are once a week on Monday evenings. Performances during the Fall/Winter concert series are held at the Eldorado HS PAC except for our holiday concert at the historic KiMo Theatre in December. Summer concerts are held twice a month at the Albuquerque Balloon Museum from June to August. John Sanks – Director.
The Los Alamos Community Winds is now a staple in the Los Alamos community. The group was organized and chartered in 2000 and rehearsals started in September with about 30 musicians. Now in 2020, they have grown to over 50 members. The group is comprised of both amateur and professional musicians of all ages and backgrounds. The LACW performs about 7-8 performances a year and rehearses once a week on Tuesday evenings from 7PM to 9PM. Dr. Ted Vives – Director.
The Santa Fe Concert Band was formally incorporated in 1983 and has been playing great music for the citizens of Santa Fe ever since then. The band started out rehearsing at St. John’s College in one of the classrooms with about 12 members. They’ve now grown to over 50 members and rehearse on Tuesday nights at the Salvation Army Bldg. They continue to carry on the long tradition of concert bands in Santa Fe that bring free music to the public. The SFCB performs approximately 12-13 concerts a year. This all volunteer band is open to musicians of all levels. Greg Heltman – Director.
For more information on the Association of Concert Bands, please visit acbands.org. For more information about the Convention please visit http://www.acb2022.org or visit us at http://www.facebook.com/nmacbc/. If you have questions, please email us at contact@acb2022.org.
The NMACBC is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation. All donations are gratefully accepted and are tax deductible. Donations can be made at https://gofund.me/14554b55
Thank you for considering support of the 2022 ACB Music for Life convention in Santa Fe!