Concert Kicks Off Auditions for New Conductor ~ Features Staci Cleveland
MELBOURNE, FL, January 20, 2010 – The Melbourne Municipal Band (MMB) will feature “A Celtic Concert” celebrating the musical legacy of Ireland and Scotland at 7:30 p.m. February 16 and 17 at the Melbourne Auditorium. It is the first in a series of concerts this year in which the band is auditioning candidates for the position of Principal Conductor.
Staci Cleveland, currently associate conductor, will audition for the principal spot during this event, leading the band in performing a variety of new selections, including a suite from the popular Riverdance program that contains airs, jigs and a percussion feature called “Thunder and Lightening.”
The program also will showcase new music that recently was added to the band’s library – thanks to the donations of audience members – such as “Be Thou My Vision,” a beautiful arrangement of a hymn tune which is derived from an old Irish ballad.
The band’s trombone section will be featured in a traditional rendition of “Loch Lomond,” arranged by one of the band’s newest members, Jim McCreary. It is dedicated to the memory of Tim Hartselle, a former member of the MMB trombone section who recently passed away.
Special pre-show entertainment will begin at 6:45 with “Kindred Spirits,” a Celtic band. The MMB’s Sunshine Brass Quintet will provide intermission entertainment.
There is no charge for the concert and tickets are no longer required. The move is part of the MMB’s goal to make concert attendance easy for its audience and to save costs and eliminate the environmental impact of ticket printing. Call 724-0555 or visit www.mmband.org for more information.
About the Melbourne Municipal Band
The Melbourne Municipal Band (MMB), established in 1965, plays free concerts for the citizens of Brevard County nearly every month, and also contributes to the community through parades, patriotic concerts and ceremonial performances. Some 30 percent of the band’s 80-plus members are professional musicians. In a typical year, the band serves 69,000 concert attendees, and its members give 27,000 hours of community service in the form of rehearsals and performance time.
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