Celebrations and Meditations Concert Program

After Intermission

Tonight’s concert continues our 2010-2011 celebration of American composers and of the rich American literature that exists for concert band or wind ensemble. Compositional luminaries such as Alfred Reed, Francis McBeth, and Frank Ticheli are who have come to define the standards for what concert band literature can be.

Our concert moves variously through pieces that offer reflective and celebratory moments of the human spirit – from the variations on the Shaker tune that so fascinated Aaron Copland, and which may depict a simple day on a farm in the Appalachian Mountains – to the American Elegy that closes the first half of tonight’s concert. Written to remember the tragedy of Columbine High School, American Elegy both honors the fallen high school students while celebrating the inevitable continuance of the human spirit.

Members of our flute section – with some friends of the Mile High Freedom Band – will open up the second half of our concert this evening with selections for flute choir, performing as Flutation Devices. This will feature rarely heard members of the flute family – while the piccolo and flute may be familiar to you, the alto flute and bass flute have sonorous qualities that you’re sure to enjoy.

Tonight also features the formal introduction of a new performing unit of the Mile High Freedom Band, Freedom Swing. Established in the tradition of dance bands and swing bands of the 1930s and 1940s, Freedom Swing will be hosting dances and its own concert series and honoring the traditions of live music in the swing and jazz idioms beginning with this fall.

Warm regards, Rice Majors

Member Band

Welcome Family & Friends, It was just about 6 years ago to the day when I joined the Mile High Freedom Band and as I take a look back it is really exciting for me to see just how we have evolved into the group that we are today. When I joined there were about 15 members in the band, but by the end of the summer we were down to only 8 as some members were moving out of town, the country or just retiring from music.

It is true that most volunteer community groups will have their ups and downs, which is why tonight I am extremely privileged and honored to present the debut of a new group within the MHFB family. The newly formed “Freedom Swing” will perform after intermission. We hope to have them off and running very soon with some great swing dance parties around town. So get your dance shoes on!!

After intermission we have another new small ensemble performing for you tonight as well. Joining the already formed Sax Ensemble, The Flutation Devices will have their first public performance tonight. I would like to wish both new groups the best of luck…break a leg with your performances tonight!!

If you have been a faithful supporter of the MHFB since our beginning, or if this is your first time attending one of our events, I would like to thank your for your support. We truly could not be here without you. After all, the music we are providing isn’t just for us. From just a few years ago and a few members to over 50 performers I invite you sit back, relax, enjoy the show and tap your toes along with us.

Sincerely, Brandon A. Lujan MHFB President www.mhfb.org Mile High Freedom Band PO Box 9036 Denver, CO, 80209.

720-515-MHFB (6432)

Variations on a Shaker Melody ................................................... Aaron Copland Symphonic Prelude .......................................................................... Alfred Reed (guest conductor Shirlene Estelita) Masque .................................................................................W. Francis McBeth Chorale and Alleluia .................................................................. Howard Hanson An American Elegy .......................................................................... Frank Ticheli Artistic Director - Rice Majors Guest Conductor - Shirlene Estelita Members: Flute Ethan Brown Lynn Center Tracey Futch Rosanna Rains Travis Shiverdecker

Bassoon Nathan Applegate Larry Moskow Justin Walmsley

French Horn Gary Bales Leo Fua Emily Rogers

Piccolo Tracey Futch

Alto Saxophone Rob Johnson Carlos Rodriguez Len Ulibarri

Oboe/English Horn Juan Hernandez

Tenor Saxophone Dani Johnson

Trombone Christine Bland Gary Hand Fred Rollenhagen Joseph Schwab Roy Vestal

Clarinet Jen Horn Beth Johnson Brandon Lujan Tom Ratterree Ann Stanton Martha Thomas

Baritone Saxophone Shirlene Estelita

Bass Clarinet Lisa Girard

Trumpet Rob Andresen Deb Bialeschki Robert George Theresa Gunter-Parrish John Klocek Mike Richters Clark VanderBroek

Intermission

Euphonium Andy Hemr Tim Tafoya Tuba Kate Miller Charles Varin Percussion Dawn Dezellem Justin Hatcher Leah Phillips

Ring of Flutes ...................................................................James-Michael Sellers Traffic Jam ................................................................................. Ricky Lombardo Members: Ethan Brown Lynn Center Tracy Futch Juan Hernandez

Marie Jurado Sharon Kent Rosanna Rains Travis Shiverdecker

In the Mood ...................................................... Joe Garland, arr. Paul Lavender Doctor Cool ........................................................................................ Peter Blair A Chorus For Delores ..................................................................Dean Sorenson Check Your Swing ............................................................................. Doug Beach Shirlene Estelita and Leah Phillips - Conductors Members: Saxophone Section Brandon Lujan - Tenor Dani Johnson - Alto Rob Johnson - Alto Len Ulibarri - Tenor Shilene Estelita - Bari Trombone Evie Blackwell Fred Rollenhagen Leah Phillips Christine Bland

Trumpet John Klocek Clark Vander Broek Rhythm Section Michelle Plarina - Bass Dawn Dezellem - Drums John Epps - Piano

The Mile High Freedom Band welcomes Shirlene Estelita as this evening’s guest conductor. Shirlene studied music at Skyline College and has worked as a private music instructor for nearly 15 years, teaching saxophone, clarinet, trumpet and keyboard. Shirlene also worked as an assistant high school music director in California in the 90’s leading both freshman band and various ensembles. In addition to concert band performance, Shirline has performed in a wide range of rock and blues bands over the years including Midnight Picnic, an all women original rock/folk/blues group, playing sax, keyboard and singing vocals.

Please join us in welcoming Shirlene to the stage as guest conductor of the concert band, and joint conductor of Freedom Swing.

Amy Drayer is a Seattle native who currently resides in Denver, Colorado. She is the Associate Director of Development and Communications for the GLBT Community Center of Colorado, where her primary responsibility is the coordination of The Center's signature event, Denver PrideFest, which draws over 300,000 attendees annually.

She relocated to Denver from Washington, DC where she worked in the progressive movement for more than six years. Initially she directed field operations for Choice USA, a national youth-oriented educational foundation, and subsequently directed field operations at Voters For Choice. In 2000, Amy coordinated a multi-city tour for Voters For Choice and Gloria Steinem, during which she worked with dozens of colleges and managed volunteer coordinators at each location to host rallies ranging from 300 to 1,000 people.

After leaving Voters, Amy consulted with Brazile and Associates as Campaign Manager for Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC). Also with Brazile, in 2004 she directed transportation for the national March for Women's Lives, parking over 1,000 busses in RFK Stadium within four hours. She left Brazile to manage staff for nancy kruse + partners, which held online auctions for NPR and NPR affiliates, then moved on to the Empower Program. While in DC she also volunteered as Finance Chair for the Women's Information Network (WIN), a networking group for young, Democratic Pro- Choice women, helping to coordinate their Women Opening Doors for Women annual fundraiser that draws over 400 attendees to 25 dinners throughout the District.

She also managed on a volunteer basis the 2004 and 2005 Affairs of the Heart Gala for the Washington Free Clinic, then the oldest free medical clinic on the east coast.

Amy is a graduate of Scripps College in Claremont, California and currently serves as Vice President of the Alumnae Association. Amy and her partner Erin reside in Greenwood Village, CO.

May 6 & 7 The Road Home Denver Gay Men’s Chorus L2 Arts & Culture Center 7:30 pm May 8 The Road Home Denver Gay Men’s Chorus St. Andrew United Methodist Church – Highlands Ranch 2:00 pm May 14 20 Years in Harmony Harmony Chorale L2 Arts & Culture Center 7:30 pm May 21 Here, There and Everywhere Denver Women’s Chorus Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm June 14 Melodies of Pride Mile High Freedom Band in collaboration with Harmony Chorale City Park Pavilion 6:30pm June 18 Denver Pride Kid’s Parade Freedom Swing on stage at Denver Pride Civic Center Park June 19 Denver Pride Parade October 29 Spooktacular! Spooktacular!