The Brassroots

INSIDER

Vol. 10, Issue 1 • Fall 2014

“South Western Ontario’s Favourite Brass Ensemble”

www.brassroots.cabramgregson@rogers.com226.448.7821

Newsletter design and layout by Nikki Attwell Communications • www.nikkiattwell.ca

From our music directorBram GregsonBRASSROOTS’ 29TH SEASON starts on October 25 with Let it Shine! It will feature our own soloists in a varied and entertaining program of pop and classics. The remaining three concerts will feature special guests. Christmas at Westminster is our popular presentation of festive season music and for the fourth year in succession we will have the support of Stephen Holowitz, organist, and the choir of St. James Westminster Anglican Church. We anticipate a full house. Admission is free! In February 2015 Brass and Ivory will feature 3KeyboardS. I say without reserva-tion that the musicianship and variety of music of Angus Sinclair, Peter Clements and Stephen Holowitz have resulted in some of the most enjoyable concerts I have attended in London. This really is a first for London! Brass, organ, piano, accordian in pop, jazz and classics including the mighty Finale to Saint Saën’s Organ Symphony.

Our final concert, Dizzy Fingers, features world pre-miere arrangements for flute and brass. Canadian flutist Laurel Swinden has performed across Canada, the United States and China. Recently she presented a recital at the National Flute Association Convention in Chicago. In an evening with a distinctly Latin flare, Brassroots will feature some brand new charts never before heard in Canada. Details of these concerts are shown on the back

page. This is Brassroots’ most adventurous concert series in its history of bringing our special genre of music to the community.

If you are in the London area, we hope you will be able to join us for these stimulating concerts. If you are a regular attendee please help us to spread the word about Brassroots. We would appreciate that. All musicians love to play to a full house!

Last season when we featured a wonderful clarinet quartet, a few people left the concert at the intermission. I happened to meet a couple and asked why? They said

“We come to hear Brassroots not other groups!” Here is my response to that:

One of our responsibilities is to collaborate with other talented musicians in our city. In fact, it is one of the conditions for receiving our annual grant from London Arts Council. We take this very seriously and we feel it is our obligation to showcase other talents whether choirs, ensembles or soloists. In so doing, we also fulfill our man-date of offering eclectic programming. Last season’s final concert to a full house with brilliant pianist Mark Payne and Vocal Fusion was ample proof! Gershwin and Billy Joel for piano, choir and brass was so cool!

I prefer to listen to classical music and big band jazz but I like to give music of every genre a chance. This wid-ens my horizons as I learn to appreciate more and more the wide world of music. Bram

Important Announcements!This is the last issue of The Insider that will be delivered in hard copy by Canada Post.

The cost to do so has become prohibitive, so we are moving to an e-mail only distribution. We’d like you to continue receiving our news

and updates, so if you’ve been receiving our newsletter by Canada Post, please send an email message to bram@brassroots.ca with the

words “Send Brassroots’ newsletter” in the subject line.

Canada’s new anti-spam legislationThis newsletter also is sent by e-mail to many households. The government’s new anti-spam legislation came in to force on July 1, 2014. In order for us to continue communicating with you electronically, the legislationrequires us to secure your consent. If you do NOT wish to receive the e-mail version of Brassroots’ newsletter, please send an e-mail to admin@brassroots.ca and simply put in the subject line “Do not e mail Newsletter”.

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THE BRASSROOTS INSIDER • FALL 2014

What were our guys doing in the summer?AT THE TIME OF WRITING, Julia Vaughan is gearing up for the World Triathlon Championships in Edmonton, Alberta where she is representing Canada. She has competed in three Triathlons this sum-mer, faring well in all three. She placed 1st, 2nd and 4th.

There is no limit to this gal’s tal-ents. Julia, a school teacher, coaches and plays in several different sports. And you thought she was just a great trumpeter! Go Julia, go!

Rob Inch is a little excited after traveling up the Jasper Tramway in Alberta. He took wife Wendy and daughters Katelyn and Emily on a 3500km tour of western Canada. Another highlight was the Columbia Icefield in Jasper

National Park. Judging by Rob’s com-ments, the family had a great time!

The local newspaper in Dokkum, Holland wrote that “Horn soloist Tony Snyder played phenom-enally well in Point Pelee by Canadian composer Howard Reid Cable…”. Tony also performed the solo in Brussels, Belgium He also journeyed to France to visit the Canadian National Vimy Memorial.

In July, John Monkhouse, Dave Davidson, Bob Phillips and Susan Follows toured Germany.

Among the cities where they presented concerts were Berlin (2) Munich and Bremen. It was a whirlwind tour including a jazz workshop to trombonists at one of their stops. The Germans must like them. This was their third

trip there!. Not only do they make many contacts and enjoy German hospitality, we hear that beer consumption experiences a dramatic increase. We doubt that the guys know much about football - sorry ”Soccer” or the fact that Germany won the World Cup but they can match any German with a brew in hand!

Bram Gregson spent many hours attempting to train new pup Bella... help! With Ann, he took advantage of top-class theater productions in south western Ontario. Among these were South Pacific, Cabaret, Crazy For You, King Lear and Juno the Paycock.

After adjudicating at the North American Brass Band Championships, Bram was honored to receive the

President’s Citation Award for his services to the brass band movement in North America.

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THE BRASSROOTS INSIDER • FALL 2014

We recommend these Amabile concerts

BOYS AND MEN’S CHOIRS

100th Anniversary of the 1914 Christmas Eve TruceSUNDAY NOVEMBER 9, 2014 ST. PETER’S BASILICA

AMABILE CHOIRS with ORCHESTRA LONDON

Rutter’s GloriaSATURDAY NOVEMBER 29, 8 PMCENTENNIAL HALL

November 7, 2014

Brassroots presents a concert at the Ontario Music Educators’ Conference

December 13, 2014

2.30 pm and 6:00 pmBrassroots will be the guests of the Amabile Boys & Men’s Choirs in their presentation:

Boys and Brass — A Christmas Celebration

at First St. Andrews United Church, London

Spring 2015

Brassroots will record its seventh CD.

Your financial help is always appreciated.

We have a faithful group of supporters who assist Brassroots. The easiest method for

donating to Brassroots is on-line at www.CanadaHelps.org. Alternatively you may send a donation to:Brassroots, c/o Julia Vaughan713 Rowntree Avenue, London ON N6C 2L9.

Tax receipts are issued for dona-

tions of $20 or more. Brassroots’

Charitable Registration Number is

130746993RR0001.

OTHER BRASSROOTS’ EVENTS THIS SEASON

For music lovers

❝ How is it that music can, without words, evoke our laughter, our tears, our highest aspirations? Jane Swan (b. 1943)

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent. Victor Hugo (1802-85)

I know that twelve notes in each octave and the varieties of Rhythm offer me opportunities that all of human genius will never exhaust Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)

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THE BRASSROOTS INSIDER • FALL 2014

2014|2015 An exciting concert series featuring wonderfully talented guest soloists as well as Brassroots’ outstanding soloists in eclectic programming designed to appeal to all musical tastes. All concerts at St. James Westminster Anglican Church 115 Askin Street, London

TICKETS from Tuckey Home Hardware (136 Wortley Rd) | on line at onstagedirect.com/brassroots | or call 226.448.7821 |or purchase at the door, subject to availability SINGLE TICKETS Adults $20 ea | Seniors/Students $15 ea (concerts 1, 3 & 4 only; free admission to concert 2)3-CONCERT SUBSCRIPTION (concerts 1, 3 & 4) Adults $50 | Seniors/Students $40 MAIL CHEQUES BRASSROOTS Tickets, 199–600 Hyde Park Rd, London ON N6H 5W8 OR CONTACT icdcappa@srh.ca | phone 519.471.3574

Concert #1

Let it Shine!Our star soloists featured inclassics, pop and jazz

Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Trumpets, Purcell’s Trumpet Tune and Air

Variations on Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

“Autumn Leaves,” “Days of Wine and Roses,” “Gonna Fly Now” from Rocky, “Tuba Polka,” Chick Corea’s “Spain” and more…..

SATURDAY OCTOBER 25, 2014 | 7:30 PM

Concert # 2

Christmas at WestminsterOur gift to the community!With Stephen Holowitz, music director / organist,and the Church Choir

Special arrangements for brass choir

“Twelve Days of Christmas,” “Carol of the Bells,” “We Three Kings,” “Home Alone for Christmas”

Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, Christmas Pudding, “Sleigh Ride” and more

Festive fanfares and carol singing

SUNDAY DECEMBER 14, 2014 | 2:30 PMFree admission | Donations gratefully received

Concert #3

Brass and IvoryFeaturing 3KeyboardSAngus Sinclair, Peter Clements and Stephen Holowitz

Brilliant keyboard artists in their special arrangements of pop and jazz.

Collaborating with brass in:

Finale of Saint Saën’s Organ Symphony, majestic “Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral” from Wagner’s Lohengrin,

“The Great Gate of Kiev” from Pictures at an Exhibition, Billy Joel’s “Piano Man,” songs by Gershwin and Ellington and more…

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2015 | 7:30 PM

Concert #4

Dizzy FingersWith Laurel Swinden – Flute VirtuosoMusic with a Latin fl are

World Premiere of new arrangements for fl ute and brass

Sonata Latino by Mike Mower

“Flower of Port William” by Chris Norman

Brassroots: “Tientos Y Danzas,” “La Perla Negra,” “Soul Bassa Nova”, “Granada,” “Children of Sanchez,” and more

SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015 | 7:30 PM

Help us to provide even more variety to our programming!

We are always on the look-out for new charts! So far this season, donations have been received from the following to allow us to expand our library:

MARGARET LEE “Rondo” from Sinfonies des FanfaresTHELMA TRETHEWEY “Toccata” by Frescabaldi FIL CAPPA “Finale” from Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony KEVIN SWINDEN “Soul Bassa Nova”PATRICK SMITHERS “Gonna Fly Now” (from Rocky)BRAM GREGSON “La Perla Negra”

Thank you to these good friends of Brassroots!

See the sidebar to the right for a list of titles on our “Wish List.” Perhaps there’s one there that speaks to you?

A donation of between $40 and $100 can enable the purchase

of a new piece.

Future music purchases

Zorba the Greek | Lord of the Dance | Norwegian

Wood | Elenor Rigby | Trisch Trasch Polka | Glen

Miller selection | Bess you is my woman now |

Post Horn Galop | The Toymaker | Fanfare from

Sinfonietta (Janacek) | Surprise Variations (Haydn)

| Polovtsian Dances (Borodin) | Lost to the World

(Mahler) | Six Dances in Bulgarian Style | Tea for

Two (Shostakovich’s arrangement) | Exhibition

Can Can (Snell)