| San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band presents 2008-09 Community Concert Series Bands Across the Sea Guest Conductor Michael L. Wirgler Music Director & Conductor of the Golden Gate Park Band 8 pm, Friday, September 12 Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 678 Portola Drive (near Twin Peaks), San Francisco Admission Free www.sflgfb.org / (415) 255-1355 Michael L. Wirgler, Music Director and Conductor of the 126-year-old Golden Gate Park Band, guest conducts the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band for its 2008-09 Community Concert Series season opener, Bands Across the Sea. A celebration of great wind ensemble music from both sides of "the pond," "Bands Across the Sea" features rousing band classics like Holst's salute to British folk music "Second Suite in F," a rare Sousa ragtime tune "With Pleasure (Dance Hilarious)," and Joseph Jenkins' Wild West evoking "American Overture for Band." The concert program includes: * Percy Grainger's Irish folksong-inspired "Molly On the Shore" * "Beachcomber," a whimsical piece by Clive Richardson, featuring band member Gary Sponholtz on accordion (the official instrument of San Francisco) * Holst's famous homage to British folk tunes – "Second Suite in F-Major" * Joseph Jenkins' Wild West evoking "American Overture for Band" * "With Pleasure (Dance Hilarious)" – one of Sousa's rare ragtime pieces * "Pirates of the Caribbean" – the award-winning soundtrack music by Klaus Badelt An original arrangement for band of Dvorak's "Finale from Symphony No. 8"– arranged by guest conductor Michael Wirgler "Fanfare 125" – Wirgler's tribute to the Golden Gate Park Band's 125th anniversary "Bands Across the Sea" is the first installment of the 2008-08 Community Concert Series, a series of free pops-style concerts produced since 1993 by the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, the Official Band of the City of San Francisco. For more information about the concert, Michael Wirgler and the San Francisco Freedom Band, check out www.sflgfb.org. The SFLGFB is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, proud to be supported in part by Grants for the Arts of the San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund, the San Francisco Arts Commission, the Jon Sims Endowment Fund for the Arts and Betty's List (www.bettyslist.com). # # # About Michael Wirgler: Like the 126-year-old Golden Gate Park Band he conducts, Wirgler is a San Francisco original. One of those rare San Francisco natives, Wirgler describes the City as a magnet that keeps drawing him back. He lived his first 8 years in the Marina District before moving to South San Francisco and the East Bay with his family. He earned both his B.A. and Master's degrees at San Francisco State University, taking his Master's Degree in clarinet performance. During his service in the Army, he was stationed at San Francisco 's Presidio, performing clarinet with the 6th Army Band. Prior to being appointed music director of GGPB in 1999, Wirgler had a long history with that band, performing as its principal clarinetist for 25 years. A resident of Oakland today, Wirgler recently retired from teaching music for the Oakland Unified School District after 33 years with the district. He continues as an active performer, teacher and composer in the Bay Area. He performs with the Lamplighter Orchestra of San Francisco and in several East Bay swing bands, including Three O'Clock Jump Big Band. He also conducts the Alameda Community Band. While this concert marks Wirgler's first time on the podium conducting the Freedom Band, he has worked with the group before, arranging segments of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet not previously transcribed for band for the Freedom Band's Dance-Along Nutcracker®. Bands Across the Sea also features some of Wirgler's arrangements, including a fanfare he composed in tribute to the Park Band's 125th anniversary and a rare arrangement for wind ensemble of the Finale from Dvorak's Symphony No. 8. # # # About the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band: Named the "official band of the City of San Francisco " in 1998 and 2003, the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band celebrated its 30th anniversary at the 2008 Pride Concert last June. The Band is the first openly gay music organization ever, inspiring the formation of lesbian and gay bands, choruses and performing troupes around the world. Founded in 1978 by Jon Sims at the height of Anita Bryant's anti-gay crusade, the Band debuted marching ahead of Supervisor Harvey Milk's convertible in the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade. The Band has been making music to build understanding between gay and non-gay communities ever since and has presented its award-winning Community Concert Series featuring major wind band repertoire since 1993, including its nationally renowned Dance-Along Nutcracker®. # # # |
Yahoo! Groups TipsDid you know...Want to share photos of your group with the world? Add a group photo to Flickr. |
Having problems with message search?
Fill out this form to ensure your group is one of the first to be migrated to the new message search system.
|
Offline 
Send Email