22.12.12 MHS Bands Winter Concert Program

Winter Concert

Jazz Band

Program

Jazz Band

Santa Claus is Coming to Town arr. Mike Lewis

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas arr. Alan Baylock Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer arr. Chris Sharp

Concert Band

Fanfare & Flourishes (1995/2013) James Curnow b. 1943

Joy (2005) Frank Ticheli b. 1958

Wintertide (2022) Randall D. Standridge b. 1976

The Christmas Song (1946/2011)

Mel Tormé & Robert Wells (1925-1999) & (1922-1998) arr. Michael Sweeney

Due to copyright and privacy laws: You may not publicly display or post recordings (YouTube, Facebook, etc.) of any part of this program. If recording, please be considerate of those around you by choosing seats that reduce the chance that a recording device will distract from the performance experience of other audience members.

Symphonic Band

Blizzard! (2020) Kurtis J. Bertauche b. 2001

Industria (2016) N. Alan Clark b. 1954

Feliz Navidad (1970/2011) José Feliciano b. 1945 arr. Chris Sharp

Wind Ensemble

Nutcracker Suite (1892/1992)

I. Chinese Dance

II. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

III. Trepak

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) arr. Robert Longfield

Arabesque (2009) Samuel R. Hazo b. 1966

All I Want for Christmas is You (1994/2015) Mariah Carey & Walter Afanasieff b. 1970 & b. 1958 arr. Michael Brown

Program Notes

Fanfare & Flourishes (1995/2013)

James Curnow b. 1943

James Curnow’s Fanfare and Flourishes was composed in 1991 and features a prominent musical theme from Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s “Te Deum”. As the title suggests, an exciting fanfare opens the piece, giving way to renaissance inspired melodies that feature multiple sections of the ensemble in turn.

(program notes from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire)

Joy (2005)

Frank Ticheli b. 1958

Above all, Joy is an expression of its namesake: simple, unabashed joy. A boisterous, uninhibited quality is implied in the music, not only at climactic moments, but also by the frequent presence of sudden and dramatic stylistic contrasts.

The main melody and overall mood of the work (and its companion piece, Joy Revisited) were inspired by a signal event: the birth of our first child. The intense feelings that most any father would feel on such a day were, in my case, accompanied by a simple little tune which grabbed hold of me in the hours preceding her birth, and refused to let go throughout the day and many days thereafter. Indeed, until I jotted it down in my sketchbook, it did not release its grip. Seven years and two children later, I stumbled upon that old sketch and discovered (or rediscovered) that it would serve perfectly as the foundation for a joy-filled concert band overture.

(program notes by the composer)

Wintertide (2022)

Randall D. Standridge b. 1976

Winter is a truly magical season. The white snow, the long nights, the holiday lights, the festivals… it truly feels like no other time of the year. In Wintertide, I attempted to communicate the variety of emotions and impressions that this time of year always leaves with me. There is a sense of wonder, a hint of darkness, and a feeling of joy that permeates the work. I hope that this short sketch of the coldest months warms your hearts as you play or listen.

(program notes by the composer)

The Christmas Song (1946/2011)

The Christmas Song (commonly subtitled Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire or, as it was originally subtitled, Merry Christmas to You) is a classic Christmas song written in 1945 by Bob Wells and Mel Tormé.

According to Tormé, the song was written during a blistering hot summer. In an effort to "stay cool by thinking cool", the most-performed (according to BMI) Christmas song was born. "I saw a spiral pad on his (Wells') piano with four lines written in pencil", Tormé recalled. "They started, 'Chestnuts roasting..., Jack Frost nipping..., Yuletide carols..., Folks dressed up like Eskimos.' Bob didn't think he was writing a song lyric. He said he thought if he could immerse himself in winter he could cool off. Forty minutes later that song was written. I wrote all the music and some of the lyrics.”

(program notes from Wikipedia.org)

Blizzard! (2020)

J. Bertauche b. 2001

Blizzard! was inspired by cold, winter storms that bring along white-out snow and blustering winds. The slower beginning section represents the storm slowly blowing in, cold, icy clouds dragging along an ominous forecast. The faster, violent section is the storm raging down on the earth below, high-speed, blustering winds and cold, icy snow. The reflective middle section represents a break in the storm, the winds calm down and the snow-packed clouds reflect and light from civilization below. The work returns to a fast, fierce tempo as the storm once again rages on towards the end of the piece.

(program notes by the composer)

Mel Tormé & Robert Wells (1925-1999) & (1922-1998) arr. Michael Sweeney

Kurtis

Industria (2016)

N. Alan Clark b. 1954

The initial inspiration for Industria occurred in the summer of 2013, while I was driving along Alabama Interstate 85 on my way to visit Robert W. Smith. I noticed a large dead pine tree that had been cut into short segments along the fence line, and I imagined my colleague and friend Miguel Castro improvising rhythmic patterns on the various logs lying about. I began to consider different musical motives that might contrast the primitive wooden sounds of logs and other ancient instruments with the modern metallic industrial sounds inspired by the vehicles speeding by.

Industria is the result of these musings, and my collaboration with Miguel, a superb musician and composer. Originally designed as a piece for solo percussionist and winds, Industria was later modified for use by high school bands through the addition of more accessible percussion ensemble parts to replace the difficult solo (program notes by the composer)

Feliz Navidad (1970/2011)

José Feliciano b. 1945 arr. Chris Sharp

Feliz Navidad is a macaronic Christmas song written in 1970 by the Puerto Rican singer-songwriter José Feliciano. With its simple Spanish chorus (the traditional Christmas/New Year greeting, "Feliz Navidad, próspero año y felicidad" meaning "Merry Christmas, a prosperous year and happiness") and equally simple English verse "I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart", it has become a classic Christmas pop song in the United States, throughout the Spanish-speaking world and internationally. (program notes from wikipedia.org)

Nutcracker Suite (1892/1992)

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) arr. Robert Longfield

The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (op. 71). Although the original production was not a success, the 20-minute suite that Tchaikovsky extracted from the ballet was. However, the complete Nutcracker has enjoyed enormous popularity since the late 1960s, and is now performed by countless ballet companies, primarily during the Christmas season, especially in North America. Tchaikovsky's score has become one of his most famous compositions, in particular the pieces featured in the suite. (program notes from wikipedia.org)

R. Hazo

b. 1966

Arabesque was commissioned by the Indiana Bandmasters Association and written for the 2008 Indiana All-State Band. Arabesque is based in the mystical sounds of Middle Eastern music and it is composed in three parts. “Taqasim” (tah’-zeem), “dabka” (dupp-keh) and “chorale.” The opening flute cadenza, although written out in notes, is meant to sound like an Arabic taqasim or improvisation. Much the same as in jazz improvisation, the soloist is to play freely in the scales and modes of the genre. In this case, the flute plays in bi-tonal harmonic minor scales, and even bends one note to capture the micro-tonality (quarter-tones) of the music from this part of the world. However, opposite to jazz, taqasim has very little change to the chordal or bass line accompaniment. It is almost always at the entrance to a piece of music and is meant to set the musical and emotional tone.

The second section, a dabka, is a traditional Arabic line dance performed at celebrations, most often at weddings. Its drum beat, played by a dumbek or durbake hand drum is unmistakable. Even though rhythmically simple, it is infectious in its ability to capture the toe-tapping attention of the listener. The final section, the chorale, is a recapitulation of previous mystical themes in the composition, interwoven with a grandeur of a sparkling ending.

Both sets of my grandparents immigrated to the United States; my mother’s parents were Lebanese, my father’s mother was Lebanese and his father was Assyrian. Sometimes in composition, the song comes from the heart, sometimes from the mind, and sometimes (as in this case) it’s in your blood. The Indiana Bandmasters Association asked for a piece that was unique. I had not heard any full-out Arabic pieces for wind orchestra, and I knew of this culture’s deep and rich musical properties … so I figured that one might as well come from me.(Plus, my mom asked if I was ever going to write one.) I hope you enjoy Arabesque.

(program notes by the composer)

All I Want for Christmas is You (1994/2015)

Mariah Carey & Walter Afanasieff b. 1970 & b. 1958 arr. Michael Brown

All I Want for Christmas Is You is a song recorded by American singer Mariah Carey for her fourth studio album and first holiday album, Merry Christmas (1994). The song has become a Christmas standard and continues to surge in popularity each holiday season.

(program notes from wikipedia.org)

Samuel

Jazz Band

Due to the importance of every part, students are listed alphabetically.

Alto Sax

Andie Barron

Jaylen Korth

Tenor Saxophone

Ellie Huebner

Samantha Kohlmann Michael Sadowski

Bari Saxophone

Zack Simonson

Trumpet

Elijah Abraham

Emily Brandt

Jacob Chilicki

Katharine Wilhelm Anthony Witt

Trombones

Mailen Fingland

Kaylyn Geuder

Jenna Keeling

Callan Schultz

Gavin Schultz

Piano Lauren Jakab

Bass

Niyah Borgman

Nolan Forster

Drumset

Jeremy Boutin

Concert Band

Due to the importance of every part, students are listed alphabetically.

Flute

Jenna Keeling

Emma Kelley Ben Lohman

Maddie Miresse

Emily Plestina

Emily Salnajs

Makayla Sieradzki Jamie Stephan

Clarinet

Zackery Graul Grace Hinterlong Ben Peterson Natalie Tappa Katie Utzerath

Bassoon Darren Meyer

Alto Sax

Colton Hoff

Tenor Saxophone

Ashley Ruenzel

Brenna Smith

Trumpet

Jayce Allen Connor Beitz Alexander Peppler Camden Phillips Chloe Retherford Stephan Roeder Eli Smith Angelica Vick Horn Eli Abraham

Trombone

Anthony Eisert Ben Jones

Euphonium

Kylie Madden Alaina Talaska

Tuba Jacob Forester Lucas Forester Jacob Stark Percussion Dominic Barry Logan Basterash Jack Berish Noah Brandemuehl Tommy Bruce Evan Callies

Whitaker Carmichael Willow Conner Anna DeLeon Samuel Furru Elijah Henken

Illyanna Ingram

Toby Krull Eric Stephan Carson Strube Virginia Szpak Frank Vento Caleb Verheyen Brianna Wall

Symphonic Band

Due to the importance of every part, students are listed alphabetically.

Flute

Elyse Lange

Callie Massa

Kelsey McFadden Erin Rosenthal Maddi Weibel

Oboe

Natalie Kohlmann

Alto Saxophone

Tomas Brunow Jessica Howell Tatianna Schommer-Barrera

Tenor Saxophone Journey Daniel

Trombone

Nate Christensen Christian Krawchyk Nic Sanfilippo

Euphonium

Jake Chilicki Kaylyn Geuder

Clarinet

Ava Pellegrino Emily Tarr Nikki Wilcox

Bass Clarinet Ariana Alcala Tyler Backhaus

Bari Saxophone Matthew Ciampa Cameron Smith Trumpet Jacob Anderson Alex Mersfelder Zach Plestina

Alissa Schwichtenberg Caleb Turk

Tuba Nolan Forster Frank Vento

Percussion

Virginia Caryl Charlie Essmann Alex Fritz Joseph Geist Matthew Jolliffe Austin O'Connor David O'Connor Claire Schiek Vito Schwartz Cameron Wilke

Wind Ensemble

Due to the importance of every part, students are listed alphabetically.

Flute

Alexandria Aber

Juliana Anderson Anna Braun

Emily Henrichs

Madeline Murphy Sarah Ullrich

Oboe

Andie Barron

Clarinet

Federico Bellini Kaylyn Geuder Maddie Husted Lauren Jakab Katie Kaczinski Samantha Kohlmann Gracie Lochowicz

Tempe Wassam Claire Wright

Bass Clarinet

Alaina Talaska

Bassoon Sierra Huser

Alto Saxophone

Michael Kaczinski Jaylen Korth Katie Schwar

Tenor Saxophone

Ellie Huebner Michael Sadowski

Bari Saxophone

Parker Pauson Zack Simonson

Trumpet Eli Abraham Charlie Jefferson Hugh Wesselhoff Katharine Wilhelm Anthony Witt Horn Emily Brandt Dominic Sponholz

Trombone

Mailen Fingland Jaden Kaiser Sawyer Schieffer Gavin Schultz

Euphonium Callan Schultz

Tuba Ed Pilon David Winiarski

Percussion

Jeremy Boutin Sean Braun+ Jeremy Cotturone* Austin Kiselicka* Kendal Schreiber Nathan Starr

* - Indicates student doubles on piano + - Indicates student doubles on electric bass

Social

MHS Band Auditions

Auditions for the MHS Band Program are just around the corner! Parents, please encourage your students to audition.

MHS Band Audition Frequently Asked Questions

Does my student have to audition to be in band at MHS?

No, but we strongly encourage all students to take an audition. This allows instructors to see your student’s musical skills and ensure that they are placed in an ensemble that will help them best develop and grow as a musician. If a student does not audition they are placed in Concert Winds or Concert Percussion.

How do I know if my student is good enough to audition?

All students should take an audition regardless of their ability level. This helps us get to know your student musician and ensures that they are in an ensemble that best fits their musical skills and goals.

How does my student audition/what are the requirements?

A detailed informational handout including a link to our online audition sign up will be emailed out to families after this concert. Audition excerpts along with hard copies of the informational handout are available in the PVMS and MHS Band Rooms.

When are auditions?

Auditions will take place on January 20th & 23rd - see the informational handout and link to the online sign up for more information.

MHS Band Classes

• Concert Winds/Concert Percussion - open ensemble. No audition required. Compare workload/rigor to normal academic classes/JV2 athletic teams.

• Symphonic Band - mid-level ensemble. Audition required. Compare workload/rigor to honors level academic classes/JV1 athletic teams.

• Wind Ensemble - top-level ensemble. Audition required. Compare workload/rigor to AP Classes/Varsity level athletic teams.

Upcoming Band Events

Date Time Event Location

Dec 13 7:00pm

Jan 20/ Jan 23

PVMS Bands Winter Concert

Greenwald PAC

TBA MHS Band Auditions MHS Band Room

Feb 15 7:00pm

MHS/PVMS Jazz Bands Concert

MHS Commons

Feb 28 7:00pm Blue2 Winds Concert MHS Commons

Mar 1 7:00pm

Blue2 Percussion Chamber Concert MHS Commons

Mar 4 7:00pm

Blue2 Winds & Perc Showcase Concert

Mar 11 7:00pm

Mar 21 7:00pm

May 10 7:00pm

May 18 7:30pm

May 22 7:00pm

Greenwald PAC

Drumming for a Difference MHS North Gym

Marching Band Info Night MHS Commons

MHS/PVMS Jazz Bands Concert MHS Commons

MHS Bands Finale Concert

PVMS Bands Finale Concert

Greenwald PAC

Greenwald PAC

For more information on upcoming events, visit our website: www.mukwonagobands.org

Fine Arts Boosters

What We Do

We support the arts in the Mukwonago Area School District through volunteerism, fundraising, and advocacy.

Membership Dues

Membership Dues support around 25% of the MFAB budget. There are options available for every family ($30, $60, or $90) and a business membership option ($250) for our community partners. Note that some funding for each individual art is based on the percentage of families it has registered for MFAB.

How Can You Join?

https://www.mukwonagofineartsboosters.com/get-involved

MFAB Sulla Cima Members

Christopher & Stacy Abraham Chris & April Barron

The Caryl Family

Kyle & Kristin Christensen Jim and Jen Cotturone

The Czeshinski Family David and Marin Dobbs - Parents of Norah Samuels

Jon and Tekla Fingland

The Fleischer Family

The Gilbert Family GMA and GPA Gilbert

The Groser Family Marci and Colin Hughes Jefferson Family

Angie Andersen Jellish Joe and Dana Kohlmann

The Lange Family THE FAMILY OF KATIE LESZCZYNSKI

The Lorensen Family The Mersfelder Family

The Oftedahl Kids Grandparents Steven and Judy Shaffer Simonson Family

The Turk Family Sheri & Derek Watkins and Family Weibel Family The Wilhelm Family Winiarski Family Ziegler Family

MFAB Sulla Cima Business Members

Alliance Manufacturing Group

Mukwonago Animal Hospital

Mukwonago Kiwanis Club Schreiber Financial Services

For more information on upcoming events, visit our website: www.mukwonagofineartsboosters.com

Special Thanks

MASD Board of Education

Shawn McNulty, MASD Superintendent

Stephanie Blue, Director of Student Learning

Michelle Ziegler, Student Learning Elementary Coordinator

Tom Karthausser, Director of Business Affairs

Ben Kossow, Coordinator of Student Assessment Data and Analysis

Christine Bowden, Director of Pupil Services

Dustin Lehman, Coordinator of College and Career Readiness

Steven R. Williams, Ph.D., Director of Human Resources

Andy Wegner, District Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds

Jim Darin, MHS Principal

Holly Bodish & Brynn Rohde, MHS Associate Principals

William Plant, MHS Dean of Students

Andy Trudell, MHS Activities Director

Terry Martynski, MHS Head Custodian MHS Custodial Staff

Jenny Peterson, PVMS Band Director

PJ Uhazie, MHS Choir Director

Lori Wildemann, PVMS Choir Director

Julie Hanisch, MHS Drama Director

Dale Wimer and Alexa Zakutansky, MHS Orchestra Directors

Sarah Oftedahl, PVMS Orchestra Director

Kaitlyn Rian, Brianna Schroeder & Ben Warrichaiet, MES Band Directors

Kathy Doty, Anna Molloy-Roberson, Riley Roberson & Caryn Ruesch, MES Music Teachers

Joseph Coldwell, PAC Technical Coordinator

Carmen Scott, PAC House Manager & Technical Assistant

PAC Usher Corps PAC Student Crew

JoAnn Barkley & Mary Ellen Peot, District Printing Mukwonago Fine Arts Boosters