Sun Sets on Summer Series Sunday

Utah State University’s Alumni Band concludes its summer series Sunday, Aug. 2, at 7 p.m. in the Kent Concert Hall of the Chase Fine Arts center on campus.

 

The traditional band concert is free and open to the public.

 

The final concert of the 2009 season includes familiar faces and long-time friends of the band.

 

“I’m very pleased this week to feature USU alumnus and professor emeritus Larry Smith, along with his daughter, Monica Fronk, with the band,” said band director Nicholas Morrison.

 

Smith’s wife, Bonnie, also joins the band on electric bass for this evening of jazz.

 

“The Smith’s are fabulous musicians, and they passed these genes on to their three sons and daughter as well,” Morrison said. “Having them featured on the band’s closing performance each year has become a much-anticipated tradition.”

 

Larry, who graduated from USU in 1959, joined the USU faculty in 1965 and retired in 2003, founding the Jazz Kicks Big Band soon after.

 

“Larry has been the driving force for jazz in the region for more than 50 years,” Morrison said. “It seems especially appropriate to feature him with the band in this year — the 50th anniversary of both his graduation and his and Bonnie’s wedding.”

 

The band will also welcome USU Department of Music director of bands Thomas Rohrer to conduct on Sunday’s program.

 

“Tom is a great colleague and friend,” Morrison said. “His musicianship, leadership and talent as a teacher are the foundation of USU’s current band program. It is a pleasure to feature him with the band.”

 

Long-time Cache County band teacher and Alumni Band member Gregory Wheeler also guest conducts on the program for William Latham’s “Brighton Beach,” and the intermission feature also includes Wheeler in a saxophone quartet with alumna Lydia Horn, USU student Brandon Cressall and adjunct saxophone instructor Joanna Zattiero.

 

The balance of the program includes music by Debussy, Chance, Vaughan Williams, Stauss and, of course, Sousa.

 

“And the audience should bring along their singing voices,” said Morrison. “We can’t end this show without a few songs from George M. Cohan, and we’ll need your help.”

 

The band’s 48th summer season begins June 27, 2010.

 

 

Source: USU Alumni Band