2018 Tribute Concert Program

Well Done!

A Tribute Concert for John C. Carmichael May 19, 2018 – 7:30 p.m.

USF Concert Hall

You Are Invited We hope you will join us for a reception immediately following the concert in USF’s Alumni Center sponsored by USF’s chapters of Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, Phi Mu Alpha, and Sigma Alpha Iota. There will be food, beverages, and plenty of opportunity to toast our guest of honor.

The Alumni Center is located at 11810 USF Alumni Drive. Driving directions: turn right out of the parking lot onto USF Holly Drive. Go around the big left turn and take a right at the first stoplight (still Holly Drive). At the second light turn right onto USF Maple Drive. Stay on Maple until you cross USF Alumni Drive and enter a big parking lot. Turn right and you will be heading directly towards the Alumni Building.

Program Wild Ride in a Flying Car

Joshua Hobbs (b. 1990)

Bryan Braue, Assistant Director of Bands University of South Florida, Conductor Who Puts His Trust in God Most Just Johann Sebastian Bach/James Croft

(1685-1750) Scott Tobias, Director of Bands West Virginia University, Conductor Colors of Light

Baljinder Sekhon (b. 1980)

SFC Matthew Carmichael, The United States Army Band Saxophone Soloist Matthew McCutchen, Director of Bands University of South Florida, Conductor Jhon Come Kiss Me Now

Gordon Jacobs (1895-1984)

Chris David Westover, Director of Bands Denison University Conductor Irish Tune from County Derry Percy Grainger/Joe Kreines

(1882-1961) Eric Smedley, Associate Professor of Music in Bands Indiana University, Conductor Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company

Christopher Heffner, Director of Bands Lebanon Valley College, Conductor

John Philip Sousa (1854-1932)

Program Notes We gather tonight to celebrate the remarkable career and legacy of John C. Carmichael. The band is comprised of students and colleagues of Dr. Carmichael’s from Lakeland High School, Furman University, Western Kentucky University, and the University of South Florida.

Many have traveled great distances to be here.

They have lovingly put this concert together on only two rehearsals as a sign of appreciation for their teacher, mentor, and friend. The five conductors are all college band directors who have a unique relationship with Dr. Carmichael. Bryan Braue was a master’s student of Dr. Carmichael’s at USF, Eric Smedley served as John’s assistant director at Western Kentucky University. Scott Tobias, and Matthew McCutchen were Mr. Carmichael’s undergraduate students at Furman, and Chris David Westover and Christopher Heffner were his undergraduate students at WKU. Furthermore, each piece has a special connection to Dr. Carmichael. “Wild Ride in a Flying Car”, which receives it’s premier performance tonight, was written by Joshua Hobbs, a brilliant young composer who received a master’s degree in conducting from USF. “Who Puts His Trust in God Most Just“ was set for band by Jim Croft, whom John credits with setting him on his professional path. “Colors of Light” was composed by Baljinder Sekhon, an internationally respected composer who serves on USF’s faculty.

This piece features John’s son as the soloist and includes snippets of the Alma Maters from the three universities John served. It is notable that the commission was paid for by generous donations from a number of John’s students, friends, colleagues, and admirers, including every school that he served in his career. “Jhon Come Kiss Me Now” (not misspelled) is the third movement of the wind band masterwork “William Byrd Suite” and is dedicated to Alisa Carmichael for her unwavering support of her husband’s career.

“Irish Tune from County Derry” is one of the best known and most beloved works in the wind band repertoire. This particular arrangement was done by Joseph Kreines, one of our country’s foremost experts on the music of Percy Grainger, and one of John’s most treasured mentors. “The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company” is not one of Sousa’s best-known marches but is notable for being one of the few in which he used pre-existing material. I won’t tell you what that tune is but am certain you will recognize it when it appears. In addition, if applause demands it, we do have one final piece for you at the end that I’m sure you will enjoy.

Personnel PICCOLO Julia Ford - USF FLUTE John Brennan - USF Jessica Horner – WKU* Amanda Lyon - USF Mandy Swaim - USF OBOE Amy Collins – USF* Amy Baggett Durst – WKU Adam Hollenbeck - USF Christopher Johns - USF ENGLISH HORN Amy Baggett Durst – WKU BASSOON Susanna Hancock - USF* Kevin Lindow - USF CONTRA BASSOON Javi Rodriguez - USF Eb CLARINET Tod Kerstetter – FU/WKU Bb CLARINET Ian Black - USF Ana Bogach-Apgar - WKU Aaron Cabrera - USF Peggy Dees – LHS* Kelsey Donahoo - USF Kendra Reid Evans - WKU Jessica Mays Stuppy - WKU Clint Miller - WKU Tony Negron - USF Scott Tobias - FU BASS CLARINET Michael Frazier - USF Ashley Huffman - USF

ALTO SAXOPHONE Matthew Carmichael - WKU* David Dees - LHS Andy Esserwein - FU Josh Hollenbeck - USF Clifford Leaman - FU Chris Westover - WKU TENOR SAXOPHONE Joshua Blair - USF BARITONE SAXOPHONE Bradley Esau - USF TRUMPET Steve Barber - FU Dave Bruce - FU Christopher Heffner - WKU Joshua Hobbs - USF Christi Lundahl - USF Ian Mackay – FU Gary Malvern - FU* Keith Matthews - FU Antonios Molfetas - USF Mitchell Reed - USF Christi Shores - WKU Eric Smedley - WKU Scott Stowell - LHS Kenneth Watts - USF HORN Julia Barnstead - FU Jason Bombaugh – USF Lalah Manly - FU Samantha Snow - USF Allison Synnett - USF* TROMBONE Luis Alvarez - USF Scott Barnstead - FU David Martin - USF Ryan Tinker - USF BASS TROMBONE

Tom Brantley – USF* John Littlepage - USF EUPHONIUM Aaron Campbell - USF* Bruce Herrmann - USF Lauren Martin - USF Roy Mitchell - USF Brian Stuppy – WKU Michael Wickersheim – LHS/USF TUBA Phil Beatty – USF John Hadden – USF PERCUSSION John Beckford – FU* Bryan Braue – USF Kevin von Kampen - USF Matthew McCutchen – FU/USF John W. Parks IV – FU Eric “Skid” Siglin - FU PIANO Peter Belk - USF

Biography John C. Carmichael received his bachelor’s and doctorate degrees from Florida State University, and a master’s degree from the University of South Florida. His career began at Leon and Rickards High Schools in Tallahassee, before moving to Auburndale HS and Lakeland HS in Polk County. He led the Lakeland High School Band to two appearances at the Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago and received the prestigious Sudler Flag of Honor and was named Polk County’s Teacher of the Year. He also received the key to the city of Lakeland and two Citations of Excellence from the National Band Association.

His first college job was at Furman University in Greenville SC where he founded the Furman Civic Wind Ensemble and was awarded the prestigious Orpheus award from Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity. He moved to Western Kentucky University in 1993 where he was awarded the University Public Service Award and was named College Music Educator of the Year by the Kentucky Music Education Association. While at WKU he conducted highly acclaimed performances at the Moscow Conservatory and the Russian Officers Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The USF Bands had enjoyed a strong reputation throughout Florida for many years, but when John arrived in 2007 he did so with a mission to raise their stature on a national level. Under his direction the Wind Ensemble performed at the College Band Director’s National Association (CBDNA) Southern Division Conferences in Oxford, MS in 2010 and again in Charleston, SC in 2016. They also performed at the American Bandmasters Association’s (ABA) National Convention in 2013 and were featured at Carnegie Hall in 2014. John’s goal was to make sure that the USF Band program was competitive with the best in the country, and he has clearly succeeded. His work has been noted by band directors throughout the state as is evidenced by his recent selection to the Florida Bandmaster Association’s Roll of Distinction – an honor that has been awarded to only 20 other people.

Dr. Carmichael is recognized as a creative programmer, a gifted conductor, and a passionate advocate for bands, music, and education. He is in demand as a conductor and clinician throughout the United States and internationally. He has conducted or taught in Mexico, Costa Rica, Jordan, Russia, Singapore, and Taiwan. In 2008 he founded the Florida Wind Band, a professional ensemble, for which he serves as conductor and artistic director.

As a student and colleague of John’s I can attest that he is a scholar and a gentlemen, and his influence on me and thousands of other students through the years will remain an indelible part of our character for the rest of our lives.

~Matthew McCutchen