Posted by glennled on June 2, 2014
Royal Theatre, Victoria, B.C., Canada, from a loge in the balcony
On Saturday, 15 February, the weather in Victoria, B.C., Canada was shivery cold and windy. Clipper Navigation, operators of the large, 300-passenger catamarns that speedily ferry people back and forth between Seattle and Victoria, cancelled our 5 p.m. trip home due to the rough crossing that day of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Admiralty Inlet, and Puget Sound. My wife and I had a choice–go home early at 3 p.m. Saturday or wait till the Sunday, 5 p.m. sailing. So, what did we do? Naturally, we stayed in town and went to the opera!
At the Royal Theatre in downtown Victoria, B.C., Canada, the Pacific Opera Victoria company performed Ariadne Auf Naxos by Richard Strauss. As opera novices, of course, we’d never seen it or even heard of it, although the second (revised) version premiered in Vienna on 4 October 1916–almost 98 years ago.
According to the Artistic Director and Conductor, Timothy Vernon, it’s an opera about an opera, and in it, Strauss created “the greatest coloatura [soprano] part in all opera.” Two troupes of performers, one a serious opera company and the other a burlesque group, arrive one evening to entertain the dinner guests of the richest man in Vienna, expecting to present separate performances. They are ordered to present both performances at once, finishing not one minute longer than nine o’clock when there would be fireworks in the garden.
Ariadne (opera) has been abandoned by her lost love and longs to die. Zerbinetta (burlesque) intervenes with her advice that finding another man is the easiest and simplest way to get over a broken heart and that when a new love arrives, the only choice is to yield to it. These conflicting views make the opera.
And this opera made our trip–our fifth to Victoria in the previous 14 months.
Posted in Professional Concerts | Tagged: Ariadne Auf Naxos, Clipper Navigation, coloatura, loge, opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, Richard Strauss, Royal Theatre, soprano, Victoria, Zerbinetta | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on June 1, 2014
On 31 January 2014, as a para-professional, I taught my first music classes at Inglemoor High School. Several trumpet ensembles from two IHS bands, the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, were in the final week of practice for the regional competition to be held on Saturday, 8 February. Winners advanced to the state competition.
On my first day, I critiqued their practice sessions, and for the remainder of this school year, I will continue to teach their sectional sessions. I work with the Symphonic Band trumpeters (8) on Mondays and the Wind Ensemble trumpeters (7) on Fridays. Mr. Ted Christensen is IHS Band Director and Northshore School District Music Coordinator. He conducts the Wind Ensemble. Mr. Jim Rice is Director of the IHS Orchestra, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Band.
Posted in Inglemoor High School, Student Competitions, Honors & Awards | Tagged: band, Christensen, Inglemoor High School, jazz, orchestra, Rice, sectionals, trumpet, trumpeters, wind ensemble | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on May 31, 2014
On 19 December 2013, the music program presented its “Sounds of Winter” concert in the Inglemoor High School Gymnasium. The Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Concert Choir, Belle Voci, Chamber Choir, Mass Choir, and Wind Ensemble all performed for the large crowd. There are 8 trumpeters in the Wind Ensemble and 7 in the Symphonic Band. The Wind Ensemble is directed by Ted Christensen, who also is the Northshore School District Music Coordinator. Jim Rice directs the Symphonic Band and Jazz Band. At this concert several pieces were conducted by Megan Webster, Student Intern, Central Washington University.
The 45-member Symphonic Band performed “On This Day Earth Shall Ring,” “Wishing You a Merry Christmas,” and “The Bells of Christmas.” The Wind Ensemble (66 members) performed “Stars,” “Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head,” and “Christmas Festival.” The Orchestra performed “Dances from the Nutcracker.” The music program enjoys the support of the Inglemoor High School Music Boosters.
Posted in Inglemoor High School, School Concerts | Tagged: band, ensemble, Inglemoor High School, music, Music Boosters, Northshore School District, orchestra, symphonic, wind | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on May 30, 2014
On 6 December 2013, two elementary school bands performed their Winter Concert for parents, relatives and friends at Skyview Jr. High School in Bothell. The first-year (5th grade) band and the second-year (6th grade) band are quite a contrast in size but not in quality–both are developing very well at their respective levels. Shawn McGinn, Director of Instrumental Music, was on materity leave at the time, so Sarah Lawson, his substitute, conducted the concert.
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: band, Bothell, concert, elementary, Shawn McGinn, Skyview Jr. High | 2 Comments »
Posted by glennled on May 29, 2014
High School Cheerleaders Day, UW Husky Stadium, 11-9-’13
At a night game in Seattle on 9 November 2013, the University of Washington Huskies drubbed the University of Colorado Buffaloes, 59-7. Quarterback Keith Price was 22 of 29 in passing for 312 yards and had two passing TDs and two rushing TDs. Running Back Bishop Sankey rushed for 143 yards.
All that’s very well indeed, but credit must be given where credit is due–it was High School Cheerleaders Day, so with that much support, it was impossible for the Huskies to lose!
As a member of the Husky Alumni Band, I got to play my cornet again for the tail-gaters. I asked the band director if we could play “Hey Baby” which came out in 1961. We did, entertaining fans down on the boats moored to the docks at the shoreline of Lake Washington. Everybody loves to sing along and dance to those lyrics–“Hey, hey hey baby! I want to know if you’ll be my girl.” With a thousand cheerleaders at the game and the Huskies winning so easily, who wouldn’t be happy?!
Here is a photo gallery of the game, focused on the UW Husky Marching Band (especially the trumpets) and Cheerleaders, plus all the high school cheerleaders. Field-level shots are by Louis Figueroa, and press-box shots are by Garry Nakayama. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Pre-Game
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Dr. J. Brad McDavid, Director, UW Athletic Bands
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Melvyn Poll, operatic tenor (left)
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Cory Meals
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Half Time
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Post Game
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Cory Meals
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Posted in HMBAA - Husky Alumni Band | Tagged: band, Buffaloes, Cheerleaders Day, Cory Meals, Dr. J. Brad McDavid, Hey! Baby!, Huskies, Husky, Husky Alumni Band, Melvyn Poll, trumpets, University of Colorado, University of Washington | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on May 28, 2014
On 6 November 2013, at his home, my 21st trumpet student had his first lesson with me. He’s a fifth grader who recently turned 11 years old. He attends the Morningside Academy, a private, non-profit school founded in 1980. It’s located in Seattle and has a typical enrollment of 70-100 students. However, the school has no music program. His parents play the piano and flute, so they encouraged him to choose an instrument, too. Like most of us trumpeters, he likes the strong sound of the trumpet.
For our instruction book, we’re using “Standard of Excellence” by Bruce Pearson–the same book used by my brass students in the 5th and 6th grade elementary school bands which meet for practice at Skyview Jr. High School in Bothell. The plan is to have him ready to transition into band classes once he transfers into a school that offers music instruction. Meanwhile, he’s memorized “Happy Birthday” and plays it for his family members on their birthdays.
Posted in New Students - Intro Posts | Tagged: band, brass, Bruce Pearson, lesson, Morningstar Academy, music, Standard of Excellence, trumpet, trumpeters | 2 Comments »
Posted by glennled on May 27, 2014
UW Director of Athletic Bands, Dr. Brad McDavid
On 21 September 2013, the University of Washington Husky Marching Band, under the direction of Dr. Brad McDavid, hosted its annual “Band Day.” In 2013, the Husky Marching Band, created in 1929, commenced its 84th season.
Selected high school bands from all over the state performed in the second home football game held in the newly renovated Husky Stadium in Seattle. The Huskies beat the Bengals of Idaho State University, 56-0, and as a member of the Husky Alumni Band, I got to play my 59-year old Super Olds cornet again. I’m of the UW Class of 1962.
The photos below were taken by Louis Figueroa (ground level) and Garry Nakayama (press box level). Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Husky Trumpeters, Pre-Game, Dempsey Field House, UW
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Pre-Game Show
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Dr. Brad McDavid, UW Director of Athletic Bands
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Halftime Show
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Victory!
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Post-Game Show
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Daniel McDonald
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Posted in HMBAA - Husky Alumni Band | Tagged: Band Day, cornet, Dr. Brad McDavid, Huskies, Husky Alumni Band, Husky Marching Band, Idaho State University, Super Olds, University of Washington | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on May 26, 2014
Skyview Jr. High School, Bothell, WA
On 16 September 2013, I resumed teaching beginning brass at Skyview Jr. High School (SJHS). Students from three elementary schools come to SJHS for classes from 7:55-8:35 a.m. The three elementary schools are Canyon Creek, Fernwood, and Crystal Springs. A few students from other nearby schools also attend.
First-year band students come on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings for sectional classes, and second-year band students come on Mondays and Wednesdays. Then on Fridays, I conduct a class for the whole second-year band. Mr. Shawn McGinn has been Director of Instrumental Music at SJHS since 1999, and has taught over 10,000 students! His students feed into Bothell High School.
There are numerous other posts, with photos, on this blog about the many band concerts that have been held at Skyview and at the Northshore Performing Arts Center in Bothell since I’ve been been teaching trumpet and other brass instruments here.
Posted in Skyview Junior High | Tagged: band, brass, Canyon Creek, Crystal Springs, elementary, Fernwood, music, Northshore Performing Arts Center, Shawn McGinn, Skyview Jr. High, trumpet | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on August 27, 2013
Three high-schoolers and one middle-schooler showed off their talents and abilities at the 4th Annual Trumpet Recital by my students in my home in Edmonds on 8 June. Bands at Inglemoor (Kenmore), Bothell, and Juanita (Kirkland) high schools and Hamilton International Middle School (Seattle) get the benefits of their musicianship. Private lessons make a big difference in their performance at school.
Erik played “Chiapanecas,” “In a French Cafe,” and two bugle calls, “Assembly” and “Fire Alarm.” Robert played “Centaurus,” “The Technician,” and the bugle call, “Tattoo.” Vaughan played “The Executant,” “Bird’s Backyard” (jazz), and the bugle call, “Mess.” Sarah played an original composition (untitled) and “In Dreams” from the movie, The Lord of the Rings.
Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Posted in Recitals | Tagged: Bothell, Hamilton International Middle School, high school, Inglemoor, Juanita, lessons, musicianship, recital, The Lord of the Rings, trumpet | Leave a Comment »
Glenn's Trumpet Notes 