A Little Travelin' Music Please!
Saturday, November 2, 2024 7 PM
Join Us at Frauenthal Center in Downtown Muskegon
Presented by West Michigan Concert Winds in Partnership with the Shoreline Community Orchestra.
Thank you to Our Concert Sponsors
This concert has been made possibly by the generous donation by Sandy and Allen Beck. And by the John Max Busard and Elizabeth Busard Fund in Memory of Dr. and Mrs. R. I. Busard of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County.
Concert Program
Shoreline Community Orchestra
Nick Mosley, Conductor & Musical Director
Fanfare for the Common Man - AARON COPLAND
Star Spangled Banner - JOHN STAFFORD SMITH
Symphony No. 9, “From the New World” - ANTONIN DVORAK
I. Adagio - Allegro molto
II. Largo (in memory of Anita Benes)
IV. Allegro con fuoco
—————— INTERMISSION ———————
West Michigan Concert Winds
Gail A. Brechting, Conductor & Musical Director
Resplendent Glory - ROSSANO GALANTE
Salute to the Armed Forces - Arr. JARI VILLANUEVA
Duty, Honor, Country - HAROLD L. WALTERS
Narrator - Mr. Klay Woodworth
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company March - JOHN PHILIP SOUSA
Guest Conductor - Col. (ret.) Jason K. Fettig
Black Granite Symphonic March - JAMES L. HOSAY
This Cruel Moon - JOHN MACKEY
from "Wine-Dark Sea: Symphony for Band"
Thine Alabaster Cities Gleam - JERRY BRUBAKER
Let Freedom Ring - RYAN NOWLIN
Guest Conductor - Col. (ret.) Jason J. Fettig
The Chimes of Liberty March - EDWIN FRANKO GOLDMAN Arr. Loras J. Schissel
Meet Our Guest Conductor
Col. (ret.) Jason K. Fettig
Jason K. Fettig is an internationally recognized conductor of wind band and orchestra and a highly sought-after educator and clinician. Performances under his baton have occurred in forty-nine U.S. states as well as Japan, the Czech Republic, Austria and The Netherlands, and live concerts have been regularly heard on National Public Radio’s “Performance Today,” and on national television broadcasts from the White House, on “The Today Show,” the “David Letterman Show” on PBS, NBC and CBS. He has worked with an incredibly wide array of artists from across the entire musical spectrum, from internationally renowned classical artists such as pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, violinist Joshua Bell, and the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, Broadway luminaries Norm Lewis, Jessica Vosk, and Lea Salonga, to pop superstars including Gloria Estefan, Jordin Sparks and Lada Gaga.
Fettig currently serves as the 8th Director of University Bands and Professor of Conducting at the University of Michigan, continuing a substantial legacy of bands at the institution shepherded by William D. Revelli, H. Robert Reynolds, and Michael Haithcock. He conducts the world renown University of Michigan Symphony Band and leads comprehensive masters and doctoral programs in wind conducting. Additionally, he provides the overarching vision and management for the full scope of band activities at the University, from the Michigan Marching Band to numerous ensembles for both music majors and non-majors alike. He also serves on the General Counsel Committee for the University. Prior to coming to UofM, Fettig served nearly a decade as the 28th Director of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band and Chamber Orchestra, where he was the music adviser to the White House and regularly conducted the Marine Band and Marine Chamber Orchestra at the Executive Mansion. He led the musical program for the Inaugurations of President Donald Trump and President Joseph Biden and the State Funeral of George H.W. Bush. He also served as music director of Washington, D.C.’s historic Gridiron Club, a position held by every Marine Band Director since John Philip Sousa.
Fettig has conducted featured performances at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, the international conference of the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, the Texas Bandmasters Association, and the national conventions of the American Bandmasters Association and the Music Educators National Conference. He has led concerts at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Chicago Symphony Center, Severance Hall in Cleveland, and Boston Symphony Hall, and has twice partnered with the National Symphony Orchestra and their Music Director Gianandrea Noseda for special joint performances at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He has also collaborated on numerous occasions with legendary composer and conductor John Williams, most recently sharing conducting with Maestro Williams of a gala concert of music at the Kennedy Center in July, 2023. In May 2019, Fettig and the Marine Band, in partnership with the All-Star Orchestra conducted by Gerard Schwarz, won an Emmy at the 62nd Annual New York Emmy Awards for a program entitled “New England Spirit.” Fettig also represented the Marine Corps at the White House when military bands were awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Trump in 2019.
Throughout his career, Fettig has been deeply committed to music education. With the Marine Band, he began an interactive Young People’s Concert series in 2006 and authored, hosted, and conducted this popular annual event until 2015. He has launched innovative new digital programs for world-wide audiences, including a video series entitled the Digital Rehearsal Hall, which provides viewers a behind-the-scenes view into the working rehearsal process of professional musicians. Fettig has served as a clinician or guest conductor at more than three dozen universities and colleges. He frequently teaches at conducting symposia both in the U.S. and internationally, and he has appeared as conductor for numerous national Honor and All-State festivals around the country, leading both bands and orchestras. He has presented at the Midwest Clinic on multiple occasions and has served as adjudicator for major competitions, including the Thailand International Wind Symphony Competition and at the World Music Contest in Kerkrade, The Netherlands.
In addition to his many live performances, Fettig has conducted or served as lead producer for over 20 publicly released albums of both traditional and contemporary band and orchestra repertoire. In 2014, Fettig launched an ambitious project to re-record all of the marches of John Philip Sousa and provide free performance and educational materials online to schools and ensembles worldwide. His steadfast focus on preserving and celebrating historic band repertoire and performance practice is complemented by a fervent advocacy for contemporary American music. He has commissioned and/or conducted the world premieres of more than forty works, including substantial new pieces by James Stephenson, Jacob Bancks, Jennifer Higdon, David Rakowski, Stacy Garrop, Narong Prangcharoen, Peter Boyer, Zhou Tian, Jessica Meyer, Michael Gilbertson, Dominick DiOrio, Donald Grantham, and Jonathan Leshnoff. This initiative has continued in his tenure at the University of Michigan, where nearly every concert includes a newly commissioned work for winds.
Fettig holds two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in both clarinet performance and music education, and a master’s degree in orchestral conducting from the University of Maryland, College Park. His honors and awards include the 2023 Medal of Honor from the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and an honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from his alma mater, UMass. In 2014, he was elected as a member of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. He serves on their Board of Directors, along with the Board of the John Philip Sousa Foundation, and he is the current President of The National Band Association.
Meet the Conductors
Shoreline Community Orchestra
Nick Mosley, Conductor & Musical Director
Nick Mosley is proud to be a part of the thriving West Michigan music community. In fall of 2021, Nick became the music director of the Shoreline Community Orchestra, based in Muskegon, Michigan. He is also in his 21st year as a school music educator, with the last eleven years as the orchestra director at Mona Shores Middle School. In addition to his school ensembles, he also directs a thriving middle school fiddle program and summer strings camp. Nick has served on the board of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association District VII, and was named the MSBOA District VII 2022-23 Orchestra Teacher of the Year. He currently serves on the board of the Michigan Chapter of the American String Teacher Association, and has presented at the Michigan Music Conference.
Nick holds a bachelor’s degree in music education and organ performance from Western Michigan University, and earned his master’s degree in conducting from Southern Oregon University. He also serves at Forest Park Covenant Church as the Assistant Director of Worship, regularly accompanies students at Solo & Ensemble Festivals, and is a frequent performer in the community. Nick and his wife, Maggie, have two string-playing children, Alexander and Eliana, and reside in Grand Haven.
West Michigan Concert Winds
Gail A. Brechting, Conductor & Artistic Director
Gail Brechting is in her twenty-ninth year as the conductor of the award-winning West Michigan Concert WINDS. Under her direction, the WINDS received the John Phillip Sousa Foundation’s
Sudler Silver Scroll Award, America’s most prestigious community concert band award. She has organized five international tours with the WINDS, most recently to Scotland and Ireland. She
has had the privilege of conducting the WINDS in Chicago’s Symphony Hall, as well as the historic Carnegie Hall in New York City. Before becoming conductor, Mrs. Brechting was principal trombone with the WINDS and performed with many area music ensembles including the Traverse City Symphony, the Lansing Concert Band, The Lake Effect Brass, and the West Shore Symphony.
From 1996-1999 Mrs. Brechting represented MSBOA as the State Representative for the Michigan Youth Arts Festival. For forty years, she has been an active district and state level adjudicator for low brass, band and orchestras as well as teaching private trombone and tuba lessons to students of all ages.
She has been the guest conductor with the Acadia Winds in Louisiana, Hot Springs Community Band in Arkansas, was the featured conductor with the Louisiana Middle School Honors Band, and served as guest clinician and conductor with the Winter Park High School in Florida. She is the 2019 & 2022 recipient of the Harry Begian Conductor Scholar Award, through Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.
Mrs. Brechting is the Past President of the Association of Concert Bands, an international organization serving adult community bands, serving two previous terms on their board of directors. She is the Lifelong Arts Program Director with Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, serving since 2019. She is a member of the National Band Association, the College Band Directors Association, an Emeritus member of Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, P.E.O. and the Women Band Directors Association. She is the first woman selected by the John Philip Sousa Foundation to serve on the Sudler Silver Scroll Award selection committee, and presently chairs this committee. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Central Michigan University and a Master of Arts degree from Western Michigan University. Mrs. Brechting is a past music faculty member of Muskegon Community College. She retired in 2019, after a 40-year public school music education career, 34 of those with the Reeths-Puffer Schools in Muskegon, MI. In her spare time, she trains to compete as a US Masters swimmer, loves to play golf and travel.
Mrs. Brechting lives in Spring Lake with her engineer/pianist husband Frank. Their daughter Annelise, is a Physician Assistant in Greenville, SC.
Flute / Piccolo
Anita Lauterberg
Allison Langlois
Oboe
Michele Wheeler
Mary Dexter
Clarinet
Paula Whisman
Jim Brunner
Bassoon
Jane Holt
Miriam Acosta
Horn
Allen Beck
Elizabeth Johnson
Ken Kloet
Susan Peeples
James Sheckler
Amy VanderLaan
Trumpet
Craig Bourdon
Dan Whisman
David Meyers
Trombone
Judah Weeks
Mike Buboltz
Bill Price
Tuba
Rob Hardenburgh
Timpani / Percussion
Sandy Beck
Taylor Hirvo
Marty O’Toole
Violin I
Holli Stack
Kimberly Brayton
Cali Flock
Diane Gordon
Lynn Khadija
Roger Perez
Jay Sheridan
Mark Thogerson
Violin II
Kara Olson
Ava Crago
Betsy Planteroth
Paul Shorkey
Bryce Tyler
Viola
Donna Lachniet
Diane Lewis
Cello
Karen Anderson
Carol Briggs-Erickson
Diane Goss
Katy Highwind
Sarah Merdzinski
Karen Miller
Bass
Josh Bourdon
Lucas Johnson
* Indicates Principal Player
Flute/Piccolo
Maryanne Beery
Kelyn Celeskey
Roxanne Deibel
Sarah Graham
Marijo Johnson
Kathleen Johnston
Susan Kiehl
Stella Lang
Anita Lauterberg*
Rachel Martineau
Jenny VanDen Heuvel
Jillaena Weesies
Oboe
Michele Wheeler*
Bassoon
Jane Holt*
Evan Peterson
Nick Verbanic
Clarinet
Jane Bednarz
Linda Browand*
Jim Brunner
Cathy Lintula
Laurie Lubbers
Terri Jo Parker
Lynne Paul
Debra Sheckler
Paula Whisman
Alto Clarinet
Tom Oatmen
Bass Clarinet
Judy Hardenburgh
Mike Hill*
Alto Saxophone
Martin O’Toole*
Rose Wiersma
Steve Vitto
Tenor Saxophone
Rebecca Gierhart
Amanda Serocke
Baritone Saxophone
Dave Lintula
Jayden Castillo
French Horn
Allen Beck
Judy Fuller
Elizabeth Johnson
Ken Kloet
Amber Russell
Scott Peterson
James Sheckler*
Carrie Sorensen
Amy VanderLaan
Judith Wagley
Trumpet
James Baker
Kim Brayton
John Brunner
Craig Bourdon
Shar Bourdon
Sarah Haney
Kaelin Hardenburg
John Highhill
Thom Lemon
Gary Smith*
Sean Sweany
Trevor Watrin
Ian Wright
Trombone
Ryan Bouman
Ron Gibbs
Bill Price
T Rose
Dale Smith*
Judah Weeks
Bass Trombone
Bill Price
Tom Weaver
Klay Woodworth
Euphonium
Jennifer Carey
Teresa Dunn*
Monte Rogers
Robert Tuttle
Stephen Westfield
Tuba
Vince Browand
Rob Hardenburgh
Kim Reynolds
Bret Wazny*
Bass Guitar
David Martin
Percussion
Sandy Beck*
Frank J. Brechting III
Emily Cihos
Dan Cole
Andrew Susalla