FCCB Stories of Christmas 2023

FRESNO COMMUNITY CONCERT BAND Bruce Weinberger, Conductor

Stories of Get into the Christmas spirit as we present classic holiday stories such as “A Christmas Carol”, “Twas the Night Before Christmas”, “The Polar Express” and “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus”. This concert is sure to set the tone for your holiday season!

Saturday December 2, 2023 3:00 pm Shaghoian Concert Hall

Sponsored by:

DIVISION OF FINE, PERFORMING AND COMMUNICATION ARTS

State Center Community College District

Fresno Community Concert Band Come Be Inspired!

Founded in October 1993, the band was conceived as an organization that would provide an outlet for the many amateur and retired professional musicians in the Fresno area. The band now boasts 70 players representing a wide range of age and occupation, and all are former high school or college band members. Besides this performance opportunity, the band’s mission is to provide a musical, educational and recreational advantage to the people of Fresno and surrounding area by sustaining the American tradition of the concert band, performing the best in classical and pops band literature.

The Fresno Community Concert Band is unique in its mission. No other band like it exists in the area, and because of its professionalism and the dedication of its leaders and members, it will continue to present exciting concerts in the concert band tradition.

Robert Nielsen and Larry Huck served as Co-Conductors of the band from its inception until 2003 when Mr. Huck retired. Robert Nielsen remained as sole conductor, and upon announcing his retirement in May 2018, he was joined by newly appointed Associate Conductors, Sandy Headrick and Bruce Weinberger. Upon his retirement at the end of the season, they became Co-Conductors. Both Sandy and Bruce had been longtime FCCB members and very successful public school music teachers. In October 2019, Bruce Weinberger took the baton as sole conductor.

The band’s first performance on February 3, 1994 was in the Fresno City College Theatre. It has since expanded its performances to six pairs of concerts each season in both the FCC Theatre and Shaghoian Concert Hall and has also performed in the Tower Theatre for the Performing Arts, at the California Music Educators Convention, Civil War Reenactment, CSU, Fresno Wind Festival, Sacramento Band Festival and for broadcasts by MediaOne. The band has also played outreach concerts in Merced, Kingsburg, Selma and Caruthers and special concerts in the Rotary Amphitheatre in Woodward Park.

The band is governed by a sixteen-member Board of Directors. The first President was Paul W. Heath, Vice-President of Murphy Bank, who now serves as the band’s Treasurer. Jan Goyette is now in her fourth year as President. All administrative duties are performed by newly hired Band Manager, Julie Garcia, as well as board and band members and other volunteers.

The Fresno Community Concert Band is generously sponsored by Murphy Bank and Fresno City College, both of which have supported the band since its inception. Joining them is new sponsor Patrick’s Music. Additional support comes from individuals, businesses and band members themselves. Thank you!

Bruce Weinberger, Conductor

Bruce Weinberger is now retired after 35 years of teaching at Sierra High School, Tollhouse, CA, where he taught concert band, marching band, jazz band, orchestra and three choirs, as well as band and choir at the junior high. Sierra High School’s band and concert choir had the privilege of performing at a CMEA Convention in Pasadena.

Mr. Weinberger received his Bachelor of Music degree from CSU, Long Beach (during which time he became the first undergrad student conductor of the Wind Symphony) and a Masters in Music Education from CSU, Fresno. He has studied conducting with Larry Curtis, Gary Unruh, John Larry Granger, Jon Robertson and Herbert Blomstedt and studied flute with John Barcellona at CSULB. He played percussion in the FCCB and was appointed Associate Conductor of the band in 2017. He became Co-Conductor in 2018 and sole Conductor in 2019.

Mr. Weinberger was chosen “Teacher of The Year” for the Sierra Unified School District in 2000 and 2006 and was “Educator of the Year” for Sierra High School in 2015. He was also chosen to conduct Honor Bands for Tulare-Kings County and Tuolumne County. A high point of Mr. Weinberger’s career occurred in November 2014 when Mariano Rivera, former relief pitcher of the New York Yankees, personally delivered 85 new uniforms and Yamaha instruments for the entire marching band on behalf of his Foundation. In December of the same year, the Sierra High School Music Department was featured in Central California Life Magazine.

Mr. Weinberger and wife D’Arcy (retired music teacher) reside in Clovis and have two adult children. Mr. Weinberger loves to cook, travel, and all things Disney.

Julie Garcia, Band Manager

Julie Garcia is a freelance graphic and web designer who was born and raised in Fresno. In high school she played the clarinet in the Clovis East Marching Band and graduated in 2009. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Advertising from Fresno State in 2013. Julie has a passion for the Fresno community working with the Fresno Bee, Jeffrey Scott Advertising, and the River Park Farmers Market. She often works with small local businesses on branding and marketing materials.

Julie has been a long-time fan of the Fresno Community Concert Band. She was introduced to the band by her great-grandmother over 5 years ago. Julie has regularly attended concerts with her husband and two young sons, who especially love a good Sousa march or a Christmas carol! Julie recently had the pleasure of redesigning and maintaining the band website (fresnocommunityband.org) When she is not baking delicious breads and pastries, Julie is a voracious reader and cross stitcher. Julie is looking forward to working closely with the band and growing the FCCB audience in the coming months.

The Fresno Community Concert Band is deeply grateful for the support of

Charles “Mike” and Dolores Murphy and

Murphy Bank from the formation of the band in 1993 to present day.

Their kind help and encouragement has been instrumental to the success of the band.

A heartfelt thank you from us all!

Thank you to Fresno City College for their continued support!

We thank all of you for a great season and for supporting the Fresno Community Concert Band!

FCC Music Department Upcoming Events DECEMBER 05 – Wind Ensemble Winter Concert, 7:30pm, Theatre 06 – Chamber Ensembles, 7:30pm, Theatre 11 – Jazz Composters Orchestra, 7:30pm, Theatre

JANUARY 20 – Fresno Community Concert Band, 3:00pm & 7:00pm, Theatre

FEBRUARY 09 – Walk in Peace Concert, 7:30pm, OAB Auditorium

MARCH 14 – Choir Masterworks Concert, 7:30pm, OAB Auditorium 15 – Central Valley Guitar Summit, 8:00am, OAB Auditorium 16– Fresno Community Concert Band, 3:00pm & 7:00pm, Theatre 17 – Irish Music Celebration, 5:30pm, OAB Auditorium 18 & 19 – Wind & Orchestra Fest Concerts, 7:30pm, Theatre 21 & 22 – City Jazz, 8:00am - 5:00pm, Theatre

The Fresno Community Concert Band is a proud member of the ASSOCIATION OF CONCERT BANDS: The International Voice of Community Bands www.acbands.org

Season Pass Thank You The Fresno Community Concert Band would like to thank our loyal Season Pass holders. Your ongoing support over the years has been deeply appreciated and serves as the backbone of this organization.

If you are interested in a Season Pass, today is the last day to purchase one. They are available in the lobby.

By the way, these passes make great Christmas gifts!

Join us for our next concerts…

Trains! Trains! Trains!

Saturday, January 20, 2024 3:00 & 7:00 pm • FCC Theatre

A Saint Paddy’s Eve Fest Saturday, March 16, 2024 3:00 & 7:00 pm • FCC Theatre Guest Artists: Pipe On The Hob

On Broadway

Saturday, April 20, 2024 3:00 & 7:00 pm • FCC Theatre Guest Artists: The Community Flute Choir of Fresno under the direction of Frank Velasco

For Those We Honor

Sunday, May 26, 2024 | 3:00 pm • Shaghoian Concert Hall Guest Artists: Soli Deo Gloria under the direction of Dr. Julie Carter

Stories of is sponsored by

The Horn Shop

We wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Fresno Community Concert Band Personnel Piccolo Grace Sledd – Music Teacher, CUSD Flute Raul Chavez – Florist/Floral Designer Elizabeth Habib – Music Teacher, FUSD *Laurie Harmon – Teacher Doug Mayer – Structural Engineer Susan Mencarini – Optometrist Lisa Poole – Retired Science Teacher Elaine Sherry – Retired Teacher Grace Sledd – Music Teacher, CUSD Frank Velasco – Tehipite M.S. Music Director Clarinet Mike Canady – Retired Chris Dall – Artist Marina Gonzalez – Music Teacher, Sanger USD Patti Hamernik M.D. – Pediatrician Jennifer Levy – Registered Nurse Susan Nelson – Retired William Podolsky – Retired Physician Cynthia Tilghman – Semi-retired Music Teacher Gail Inghram Verbano – Court Reporter *D’Arcy Weinberger – Retired Music Teacher Alto Clarinet Tracy Lewellen – Musician/Artist Bass Clarinet *Joni Bishop – Teacher Bassoon *Betty Snyder – Retired Educator Alto Saxophone Holly Bergevin – Teacher *Becky Nissila – RN Project Coordinator Tenor Saxophone Todd Doucet – Programmer/Analyst expert Baritone Saxophone Frank Zamora – Band Instrument Repair Technician Horn Chris Belden – Retired Music Teacher Bradley Feyma – Music Educator, Edison HS Laura Hanrahan – Music Teacher, FUSD *Barry J. Holm – Banker Jim Mattos – Musician Patrick Smith – School Bus Instructor Oboe Carly Vasquez – Music Director, Sierra Jr/Sr HS Jean-Paul Lee-Ladouceur – Translator, ESL Teacher

Trumpet Eric Cymanski – Music Teacher, CUSD Cheryl Faulkner – Rotary Planner Brent Fremming – Digital Archivist Jan Goyette – Retired Music Teacher Sheldon Horn – Music Teacher Aileen Ibarra – Music Teacher Dean Lloyd – Retired Teacher Tony Luna – VAPA Coordinator, Visalia Unified Dr. Teenie Matlock – Professor, UC Merced *Dan Pena – Band Director, Sanger West H.S. Jenica Segura – Chem Grad Student/Lab Instructor Trombone Gary Barber – Underwriting Associate Stan George – Retired Music Teacher Erin Gunstream – Elementary School Principal Ed Hawke – Retired Matthew Roberts – History Teacher, Retired *Chuck Salanitro – Music Director, Computech M.S. Kathy Tovar – School Bus Driver Euphonium Stevan Fabela – Facilities Operations FUSD Paul Heath – Vice Pres., Murphy Bank Paul Hinkly – Retired Katie Isaac – Science Lab Specialist John Olson – Retired Tuba Josh Perkins – Community Inclusion Facilitator *Harry Siverly – Musical Inst. Repair Donald Thornton – Retired IRS Tax Examiner String Bass Michael McLane – Retired Teacher Percussion Phil Gessert – Band Director, Liberty HS Tyler Golding – Percussion Instructor Tracy Lewellen – Musician/Artist Joe Lizama – Musician Layne Williams – Asst. Music Director, Sierra H.S. *Ezra Wright – Middle School Band Teacher Elaine Sherry – Music Librarian Tracy Lewellen – Stage Manager

* Section Leader

Program National Anthem ������������������������������������������������������� Arr. Moffit/Barnes/Nielsen Festival Fanfare For Christmas ��������������������������������������������������������John Wasson Nutcracker Suite . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter Tschaikowsky/Arr. Mark Hindsley March Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy Russian Dance - Trepak The Night Before Christmas . . . . . . . . . . . . Clement Moore/Randol Bass Special Guest Narrator The Nightmare Before Christmas . . . . . Danny Elfman/Arr. Michael Brown A Cartoon Christmas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arr. Michael Story Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert W. Smith Virginia O’Hanlon - Faith Nino Editor of the New York Sun Candlelight Carol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Rutter/Arr. Jay Dawson Stevan Fabela - Guest Conductor INTERMISSION A Christmas Carol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Randall D. Standridge Special Guest Narrator Midnight in Bethlehem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arr. Warren Barker The Polar Express . . . . . . . Glen Ballard & Alan Silvestri/Arr. Michael Story Special Guest Narrator Special Guest Train Conductor The Stars and Stripes Forever . . . . J.P. Sousa/Arr. Keith Brion & Loras Schissel

Thank You Leo Kim, new owner of Patrick’s Music, has graciously agreed to have his store continue to serve as a ticket sales location for the Fresno Community Concert Band.

We deeply appreciate his support and look forward to this continuing partnership with Patrick’s Music.

769 E. Barstow Avenue Fresno, California 93710 (559) 224-7287 www.patricksmusic.net

Need a New Read?

Check out Friends of the Fresno County Public Library

Bookshop 9am-12pm on Tuesdays | Thursdays | Saturdays 5568 E. Kings Canyon Road | 559.600.7287

‘Tis the Season of Giving Yearly Business Donation Opportunity If you would like to partner with FCCB and have your business listed (including address, phone number, website, etc.) in the program as a supporter of the Fresno Community Concert band, check our website!

For more information, go to the “Support the Band” section at www.fresnocommunityband.org and click on the Business Donor button in the “How to Donate” box.

All donations are tax-deductible as we are a non-profit

You can donate to FCCB through Paypal.

Simply go to our website and click the yellow DONATE button on the Support page. www.fresnocommunityband.org It’s that easy!

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!

@Fresno Community Concert Band

The Fresno Community Concert Band would like to thank the following businesses, organizations and individuals for their generous support. This list includes regular donations plus the contribution part of season passes. If we have made errors in this list, please gently let us know.

Gifts are as of November 13, 2023

CONCERT SPONSORS Jan and Bill Goyette – “Homegrown and Lovin’ It!” The Horn Shop - “Stories of Christmas” The Bishop Family – “Trains! Trains! Trains!”

Paul and Linda Heath – “St. Paddy’s Day Eve” Elaine Sherry – “On Broadway” “For Those We Honor”

STARS AND STRIPES $1000 to $5000

Murphy Bank Fresno City College Patrick’s Music The Horn Shop Paul & Linda Heath Donna Weppler David & Barbara Archer

BANDMASTER $500 to $999 Robert Bird Bill & Jan Goyette Robert Lawrence John L Perry Jr. Elaine Sherry Ann Leonardo Thaxter

BLAZING BRASS $250 to $499

Bill & Kaye Mills Eugene J Richardson & Mary Ann Gamegan-Richardson Ron Dubois Sandra Vasquez-Kipfer & Steven Kipfer Sidney & Emory Wishon Steve & Maria Moore William Podolsky

WHIRLING WOODWINDS $100 to $249

Barbara Jo Harding Brian Kim Carol Terrell Chris Janzen David E Hartford Dennis Vasquez Don & Linda DeVere Donna Rosenstein Dr. & Mrs. Jerry Schroer Elin Thomas Erna A Bonetto Hank & Dory Van Loon J.C. Bert & Terry Johnson Jay Gaynor Jay M Gaynor Jeannette Forbes Jim Brown Joann Kalafut Kay Pruett

Mac & Jean Wright Mary Depew Mike & Cathy Barabe Nancy Klassen Paul & Lucia Martin Peter & Janice Larion Peter & Stacey Gessert Rich & Mary Zanarini Richard & Cindy Andrews Richard & Elizabeth Stockton Robert & Elizabeth Lewellen Robin Robertson Ruth Kallenberg Stephen Cunha & Katie Wenthur Steven & Beverly Forker Valerie Toews Virginia Tavlan Wes Qualls

PULSATING PERCUSSION $50 to $99

Alice Stewart Andrew & Phyllis Camoroda

Bill & Azalea Carter Bonnie Corcoran

Carol Just Catherine Davis Dave & Camilla Colby David & Cheri Keller David Kimball Dean Allen & Dan Hastings Dr. & Mrs. Norman Sigel Emil & Janice Sereda Emily Poulsen Faye & Jeff Nenning Gene Harrison Harriet Sigel Jacque Arabian James & Nancy Westgate Janet Nash Mills Jennifer Waite Jim & Mary Vaughan John & Elaine Schomaker John & Maureen Hayes Loretta King Lyn Peters Lynn & Carol Streit Lynne Rodriguez & Lanny Larson

Marilyn McDonald Mary Bou Mary C King Michael Kelley Myrna Estes & Deanna Nimmo Nancy Jane Mazi Nancy Kast Neal & Lynn Harris Norm & Lee Clark Norm Clark Pat Duprey Pat Westphal Paul W. & Linda D. Heath Renate Ley Ron & Linda Newton Ron & Linda Roushall Sue Satterberg Suzanne Juarez Teresa Galloway Thomas & Susan Catchpole Tom & Barbara Westerfield Toni Onkka Verna Healey

SOUSA FRIENDS $20 to $49

Alice Armstrong Alyce Fourchy Anita Morris Belva Quattrin Betty Higdon Bill Nelson Carol A Miller Carol McMillen Darlene G Martin David Rodrigues Diane Merrill Dolores Murphy

Elaine D Johnson Elma Breiler Galen Adam Gary & Sherry Pederson Geraldine Gerbrandt Jan Propp Jo Wilkerson Joan Acomb Joan Wieselquist Judith Boro Judith E. Goodmon Judy Pavelich

Kay Johnston Laura L Lindegren Laurence Imperatrice Mable Smith Margaret Sanders Marianne Bishop Marjorie Jauron Mavis Teale Nancy Kerr Nancy Tackitt

Nancy Waterhouse Pat Adams Patsy Agee Paul R Martin Rebecca T. Bartsch-Bergthold Sheila Perkins Susan Harrington-Howard Suzanne Smith Sylvia Noyes

Special Gifts In Memory of LOIS BIRD by Robert Bird In Memory of WARREN A. HEATH, JEANNE P. HEATH, DAVID R. HEATH, HAROLD L. GOLDSMITH, MARIAN H. BENNER, and JON H. HEATH by Paul and Linda Heath In Memory of EIJI MARUKO and RANDY MORRIS by Betty Higdon In Memory of BEATRICE FLEMING by Betty Snyder

Thank

You!

Acknowledgments Murphy Bank Fresno City College Patrick’s Music Paul W. Heath Julie Garcia – Band Manager Harry Siverly – Logistics Julie Garcia – Website Chris Lang – FCC Theatre Technical Director Johnny Cano III – Theatre Technical Director Delia Makel – FCC Graphics and Printing Ben Lozano & Sara Woody – FCC Printing Vincent Keenan – Shaghoian Concert Hall Technical Director Tracy Lewellen – Stage Manager Elaine Sherry – Band Librarian Bill Goyette D’Arcy Weinberger Betty Snyder Rebecca Snyder-Ray Barbara Holdt Jennifer Waite Michael McLane Cheryl Faulkner – Assistant Band Manager Larry Huck – Conductor Emeritus Robert Nielsen – Conductor Emeritus

Fresno Community Concert Band Board of Directors Jan Goyette, President Harry Siverly, Vice President Lisa Poole, Secretary Paul W. Heath, Treasurer Elaine Sherry, Band Librarian Joni Bishop Phil Gessert Elizabeth Habib Dean Lloyd Susan Mencarini Matthew Roberts Cynthia Tilghman Ezra Wright Bruce Weinberger, ex-officio Julie Garcia, ex-officio

Fresno Community Concert Band P.O. Box 25878 • Fresno, CA 93729 • (559) 440-9429 www.fresnocommunityband.org