MSU Wind Symphony
Smash Hit at 2007 Midwest Clinic!!
You say you weren't able to attend the MSU Wind Symphony's fantastic concert at the December Midwest Clinic in Chicago? Well, here's a chance to check out the program, hear why the audience in the full-to-capacity auditorium gave them a standing ovation, and be able to purchase a copy of the CD/DVD of their performance.
Congratulations to the MSU Wind Symphony!!
- View the Program for the concert.
View "live" videos of three of the compositons as they were performed at the Chicago concert:
-
Slalom by Carter Pann
Starry Crowns by Donald Grantham
Wild Nights! by Frank Ticheli
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Mark Custom Recording (http://www.markcustom.com/OrderForms/MW_Order_2007.pdf)
Dr. William "Bill" C. Moffit
1925-2008
"I never see mistakes. I see better ways to do things."
Dear friend of MSU Alumni Band members and former Spartan Marching Band Director, Dr. William "Bill" Moffit, passed away on Wednesday, March 5, 2008, in Jacksonville, FL, where he resided with his wife Jeannette.
Bill Moffit started out in the 7th grade as a trombonist in New Philadelphia, Ohio. (Bill said that he chose trombone because his uncle told him the trombones were always in front of the band and right behind the majorettes.) After serving as a musician in the Coast Guard, he returned to Ohio to become director of the Tipp City (Ohio) High School band (1950). He arrived at MSU in 1960 and stayed for nine years serving as Assisiant Director of Bands under Leonard Falcone and Director of the MSU Marching Band. It was during this period that Bill Moffit created his now famous "Patterns of Motion" marching style. A Moffit brainchild, "Patterns of Motion" featured constantly-changing kaleidoscopic patterns which could be seen and appreciated by nearly all viewers in the stadium. Based on a four-person squad system, "Patterns of Motion" would sweep the nation as the new style in marching with college, university, and high school bands everywhere adopting the style. The influences of "Patterns of Motion" are still being felt today, and have led to many more changes in marching band style. Moffit also created the "spinning of the block-S" with which the Spartan Band still traditionally opens its pregame show.
After leaving MSU, Bill Moffit became Director of Bands at the University of Houston (1969) and later Director of Bands at Purdue University (1981). In the Fall of 1984, Bill Moffit was in East Lansing with his Purdue All-American Marching Band performing at the MSU-Purdue football game. He had learned that Dr. Leonard Falcone, Director Emeritus of the MSU Bands, was in failing health and unable to attend the football game that day. To honor his former mentor, Moffit found time in his busy schedule and marched the entire Purdue band down East Lansing's narrow Charles Street to perform a concert for Dr. Falcone in front of his home. A concert that will be long remembered by all MSU Band Alumni.
William "Bill" Moffit will be fondly remembered and sadly missed as a wonderful person, musician and friend to so many MSU Alums.
- For more information on Bill Moffit:
Mark Your Calendar!!
MSU Alumni Marching Band Fall Reunion
Saturday, September 13, 2008
MSU vs Florida Atlantic
- Start making plans now to attend the Fall 2008 MSU Marching Band Reunion - September 13, 2008. Members of the MSU Alumni Band Association will be receiving complete details via regular mail. Hope to see you in the Fall!!
21st Annual
MSU Alumni Concert Band Reunion
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Wharton Center
- Start making plans now to attend the upcoming Spring Alumni Concert Band Reunion. You will still have two more days to finish your tax return so you might as well join old friends in some great music making as you procrastinate with your tax statement!
The MSU Alumni Band will present the first half of the concert followed by the MSU Symphony Band under the direction of Prof. John Madden. This year's concert will again be presented in the Great Hall of the magnificent Wharton Center on the MSU Campus.
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Registration and Hospitality (enter the Wharton Center via the Stage Entrance on South side of building)
9:00 - Noon Rehearsal
- The rehearsal will take place on the stage of the Wharton Center Great Hall. Find a seat at the part you feel comfortable performing. Music will be distributed at this rehearsal and will not be mailed out in advance.
Noon - 2:30 p.m. Lunch and Relaxation (on your own)
2:30 p.m. Return to the Auditorium and take your seats on stage (from backstage)
3:00 p.m. Concert
- The Alumni Band will perform the first half and the MSU Symphony Band the second half of the program. Wear "dress-up" clothes.
(Updated 1/27/08)
(Updated 3/16/08)
2007 Fall Alumni Band Reunion
Saturday, September 8, 2007
MSU vs Bowling Green
Game Time: 12:00 Noon
Planning to come but misplaced the Registration Form that was sent out in the Encore Newsletter? Here's a copy of the Registration Form. Print it, fill it out, add your check, and send it in by August 24th.
Here's the plan/agenda of what will be happening:
- Friday - September 7, 2007 - Annual Golf Outing at Oak Lane Golf Course. More information is avaliable at http://msuabgo.tripod.com
Friday - September 7, 2007 - 6:00 pm - MSU Alumni Band Dinner/Get-Together, Hershey's Steak & Seafood (2682 E Grand River, East Lansing). $27.50/person. More information from Gerry Spry (gspry1@comcast.net).
Saturday - September 8, 2007 - MSU vs Bowling Green (Kick-Off 12:00 Noon)
- Here is the Satruday game-day schedule:
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7:00-7:45 a.m. Registration (IM West)
8:00 a.m. Rehearsal starts
9:00 a.m. Drill rehearsal (Dem Hall Field)
9:50 a.m. LUNCH
10:50 a.m. Run-through on Adams Field (formerly Landon Field)
11:10 a.m. March to the stadium
11:20 a.m. Enter the Stadium (go to seats)
12:00 Noon Kickoff
(Updated: 7/3/07)
20th Annual
MSU Alumni Concert Band Reunion
April 15, 2007
Great Hall, Wharton Center
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Registration and Hospitality
9:00 - Noon Rehearsal
- The rehearsal will take place on the stage of the Wharton Center Great Hall. Find a seat at the part you feel comfortable performing. Music will be distributed at this rehearsal and will not be mailed out in advance.
Noon - 2:30 p.m. Lunch and Relaxation (on your own)
2:30 p.m. Return to the Auditorium and take your seats on stage (from backstage)
3:00 p.m. Concert
- The Alumni Band will perform the first half and the MSU Wind Symphony the second half of the program. Wear "dress-up" clothes.
Mark Your Calendars Now!!
Upcoming MSU Alumni Band Events
-
Have your calendar handy? Well, here are some dates that you will definitely want to plan on:
- Holiday Bands (MSU Alumni Band will be performing at MSU basketball games)
For more information please contact Jack Nelson (jackn4952@cablespeed.com)
- Men's Basketball - December 19, 2006 - MSU vs Belmont - Tipoff is 7:00 pm
Men's Basketball - December 23, 2006 - MSU vs UW Green Bay - Tipoff is 12:00 pm
Women's Basketball - December 28, 2006 - MSU vs Indiana - Tipoff is 7:00 pm
Men's Basketball - December 30, 2006 - MSU vs Loyola (MD) - Tipoff is 12:00 pm
Women's Basketball - December 31, 2006 - MSU vs Wisconsin - Tipoff is 2:00 pm
- Once again this year the MSU Alumni Band Association will be co-sponsoring (with the MSU bands, and the MSU School of Music) an alumni get-together for those attending the conference. The alumni get-together will be on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - from 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm. Please stop by and say hello, share stories, and have a good time with MSU Band Alumni.
For more information: http://www.midwestclinic.org/performers/schedule.asp
- This will be a special Spring concert with the world premiere of an original composition for band to honor Prof. John Whitwell, Director Emeritus of the MSU Bands. Dr. Donald Grantham has been commissioned to write the composition. The MUS Alumni Band is a co-sponsor of the commission.
- Donald Grantham was born in Duncan, Oklahoma. After receiving a Bachelor of Music from the University of Oklahoma, he went on to receive his MM and DMA from the University of Southern California. For a brief period he also studied under French composer Nadia Boulanger at the American Conservatory in France. His music has won many prestigious awards, including the Prix Lili Boulanger, the ASCAP Rudolf Nissim Prize, and First Prize in the National Opera Association's Biennial Composition Competition. Grantham has also been the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and three separate grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. The Atlanta, Cleveland, and Dallas Symphony Orchestras are among the ensembles that have commissioned Grantham to write new works. Grantham also collaborated with fellow composer Kent Kennan to author the textbook The Technique of Orchestration. Grantham is currently Professor of Composition at the University of Texas at Austin.
(Posted:11/9/06)
Touring Band 2007
-
Only one year and a few weeks before the 2007 MSU Alumni Touring Band departs for the 2007 Rocky Mountain adventure. The band personnel continues to develop very nicely but there is still time to get on board. The weekend of June 16-17, 2007 is when rehearsals begin in the East Lansing-Okemos area. Monday, June 18 we are off and running: Calgary from June 18-20; Lake Louise from June 20-21 (staying in the famous Chateau Lake Louise - see below); Banff June 21-23; hopping on the Rocky Mountaineer for a scenic journey to Vancouver on June 24-25 ; Vancouver June 25-June 27; return home June 28.
Many are already signed on for the Alaskan Cruise extension. It will be an exciting tour and some beautiful concert settings await us. For trip information, please contact Dale Bartlett at bartle17@msu.edu or 517-332-4495. Also, you may contact Lauralee Campbell at Lauralee@classictravel.com or 517-332-4790.
2006 Fall Alumni Band Reunion
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Game Time: 12:00 Noon
Please note - this schedule is based on game times provided by the MSU Athletic Department. There's always the possibility that the game time will be changed and our scheduled must be adjusted. Please check this website, or your local paper, the week of the game, for any additional last minute changes.
-
7:00-7:45 a.m. Registration (IM West)
8:00 a.m. Rehearsal starts
9:00 a.m. Drill rehearsal (Dem Hall Field)
9:50 a.m. LUNCH
10:50 a.m. Run-through on Adams Field (formerly Landon Field)
11:10 a.m. March to the stadium
11:20 a.m. Enter the Stadium (go to seats)
12:00 Noon Kickoff
Can't find the Registration Form for the Fall Reunion? Click here for a copy you can use. Registration deadline is September 15, 2006! (Make sure you receive all MSU Alumni Band news, join the Association today! Use the same form to renew your membership!)
Show your MSU Alumni Band Spirit
with
MSU Alumni Band Apparel
** Now Available Online **
MSU Alumni Band Scholarship Fund
With the initiation of the new John L. Whitwell Scholarship, the MSU Alumni Band now has two $1000 scholarships which are awarded each year to outstanding MSU band members. The Kenneth G. Bloomquist Scholarship is awarded each Fall and the John L. Whitwell Scholarship is awarded each Spring. Tax deductible contributions can be made to either of these scholarship funds. Please send your check, payable to "Michigan State University" and note "Whitwell Scholarship" or "Bloomquist Scholarship" on the memo line. Mail contributions to School of Music Development Office c/o MSU Bands, 102 Music Building, East Lansing, MI 48824. You will receive acknowledgement for your charitable gift to MSU Bands directly from MSU Development. For additional information on either Alumni Band Scholarship, please contact Rebecca Surian, Director of Development for the School of Music (surian@msu.edu).
19th Annual
MSU Alumni Concert Band Reunion
April 23, 2006
MSU Concert Auditorium (not Wharton Center!)
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Registration and Hospitality
9:00 - Noon Rehearsal
- The rehearsal will take place on the floor of the Auditorium. Find a seat at the part you feel comfortable performing. Music will be distributed at this rehearsal and will not be mailed out in advance.
Noon - 2:30 p.m. Lunch and Relaxation (on your own)
2:30 p.m. Return to the Auditorium and take your seats
- You should enter the Auditorum from the stage entrance
3:00 p.m. Concert
- The Alumni Band will perform the first half and the Symphony Band the second half of the program. Wear "dress-up" clothes.
Alumni Band to Participate
In
MSU Sesquicentennial Parade
October 8, 2005
MSU is asking parade participants to use the parking lot on the corner of Kalamazoo Street and Harrison Road - across from the Breslin Center. MSU will provide a free shuttle bus from the parking lot to Frandor Shopping Center where the parade will begin. At the conclusion of the parade the shuttle bus will take you back to the parking lot.
Parade units will form at the Frandor Shopping Center near Sears by the Frandor water tower. The parade will travel east on Michigan Avenue to Grand River Avenue to Collingwood Drive. It will continue through campus on Circle Drive and end at Spartan Stadium.
Music will be provided prior to the parade (bring your lyre along). Attire for the parade - GREEN and WHITE of course. You can ride on a large flat bed truck or walk alongside. With no home game that weekend, there will be lots and lots of people out to watch the parade.
IMPORTANT - To add your name to the parade marchers list, please get in touch with Jack Nelson - 517-655-3627 or jackn4952@cablespeed.com
Final deadline for getting your name on the list - October 3, 2005!!
Join the fun - Join your friends - Join the MSU Alumni Band for the MSU Sesquicentennial Parade!!
According to MSU Police, parking will be available for Alumni Band members at Munn Field for a $15 fee. You must identify yourself as an Alumni Band member to get in (the lot doesn't open to the public till 9 a.m.).
Information has just been received that the starting time (kickoff) for the September 10th football game has been delayed until 3:30pm. Due to this change, the revised schedule for the Alumni Band Fall Reunion is:
SPECIAL NOTE: Parking in the parking lots is not available until 10:00 or 11:00 on the days that games begin at 3:30. You will probably need to park in East Lansing or maybe in the circle.
Haven't yet registered? Send an email to: alumband@msu.edu
Building on the success of the first two years of Friday Night Fanfare, this year’s pre-fall reunion event will be bigger and better— the best yet! Plan now to join with fellow MSU Bands alumni, spouses and friends for dinner and socializing on the Friday evening before the “big game.”
We’ve moved to a new location! This year’s Friday Night Fanfare will be held at the newly renovated Hannah Community Center in East Lansing. Just a short walk from the downtown, the Hannah Community Center is a former East Lansing
public school that has been expertly restored to its full art deco splendor.
The Hannah Community Center is located at 819 Abbott Road, East Lansing, at the intersection of Abbott Road and Burcham Drive. The evening includes a great meal (catered by Tarpoff ’s Catering—a Lansing tradition), beverages, dessert, door prizes, vintage films of MSU bands, and a visit by Sparty with lots of time for photos.
Total cost for the evening—thanks to the Alumni Band’s underwriting of the event— will be $20 per person (children $10). Space is limited so it is important to get your reservation in early. Reservation deadline is August 1, 2005.
Want to reserve your place for this great-together? Send an email to Joe Levine (levine@msu.edu) with the following information:
Name:
For details (and Registration Form) for the Friday evening Dinner Party - check out the Newsletter (http://www.learnerassociates.net/alumband/spr2004.pdf). Make plans to join the fun!
Check out the special website for information regarding the Friday Golf Outing (http://msuabgo.tripod.com/).
Complete information/schedule will be posted here as it becomes available. To make sure you are on the mailing list to receive Registration Materials for participating in the Fall Reunion, please send an email to the Alumni Band Executive Secretary - (alumband@msu.edu) with your regular mail (snail mail) name/address.
Monte L. Sheedlo to be Guest Conductor
The MSU Alumni Band is pleased to
announce that Monte L. Sheedlo will be the guest
conductor for our 2004 Alumni Concert Band
Reunion on April 18.
Monte graduated from MSU with a
Bachelor of Music degree in 1964, and a
Master of Music degree in 1974. He taught
band for 34 years, including the last 27 years
as director of bands at Owosso High School.
He is past-president of the MSU Alumni
Band, serving from 1977–1979, and retired
from teaching in 1998. He still remains
professionally active as a guest conductor,
clinician, and adjudicator.
Dear MSU Band Alum -
We are inviting you to perform in our annual "Holiday Pep Bands"
activities on the following three dates:
Tue 12/30/03 Men's Basketball vs. Coppin State 7:00 PM start
Fri 1/2/04 Women's Basketball vs. Indiana 7:00 PM start
Sat 1/3/04 Hockey vs NMU 7:05 PM start
Please confirm your participation via email to Gary Baron at
tyzilm7@comcast.net.
Call times will be 1 hour before the basketball games, and 30 minutes
before the hockey game. For Basketball, enter the Breslin Arena through the south tunnel and sign-in at the
security table. Please, participating musicians ONLY. Do not bring
family members in the south tunnel entrance. For Hockey, enter the Munn Arena through the north doors (near pine trees), and
turn left to go to the band platform.
Thanks. Hope you can join us!
Happy Holidays!
John Madden
PARKING INFORMATION
FOR
SEPT 10 REUNION !!!
IMPORTANT ANNOUCEMENT !!
LATER STARTING TIME FOR SEPT 10 REUNION
8:00 am - Registration
9:00 am - Music Rehearsal Indoors - IM West
10:15 am - Drill Rehearsal Outdoors - Dem Hall Field
11:30 am - Lunch Break
1:45 pm - Alumni Band Run Through - Adams Field
2:15 pm - Alumni Band March to the Stadium
2:50 pm - SMB March to the Stadium
3:30 pm - Kick Off
GO GREEN
You're invited -
Friday Night Fanfare - Opus 3
Friday - September 9, 2005
6:00 - 10:00 pm
Hannah Community Center
819 Abbott Road
East Lansing, MI
Address:
City, State, Zip:
Phone Number:
E-Mail Address:
Number attending:
Food Preference: (indicate quantity) ___Beef entree ___Chicken entree ___Vegetarian entree
Reservation Deadline - August 15, 2005
2005 Fall Alumni Band Reunion
Please note - this schedule is based on game times provided by the MSU Athletic Department. There's always the possibility that the game time will be changed and our scheduled must be adjusted.
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Game Time: 12:00 Noon
Please check this website, or your local paper, the week of the game,
for any additional last minute changes.
7:00-7:45 a.m. Registration (IM West)
8:00 a.m. Rehearsal starts
9:00 a.m. Drill rehearsal
(Dem Hall Field)
9:50 a.m. LUNCH
10:50 a.m. Run-through on Adams Field
(formerly Landon Field)
11:10 a.m. March to the stadium
11:20 a.m. Enter the Stadium
(go to seats)
12:00 Noon Kickoff
Public parking is available in the westmost lot at the
corner of Kalamazoo and Harrison. For further parking
information visit: http://www.homefootball.msu.edu/parking.asp
18th Annual
MSU Alumni Concert Band Reunion
April 17, 2005
8:30 - 9:15 a.m. Registration and Hospitality
You may park:
1) In the Vet. School parking lot across from Wharton backstage.
2) In the Wharton Center Ramp entering from Shaw Lane on the north side of Wharton Center and enter the building through the Stage Door in the Loading Dock area (this is now paid parking). DO NOT PARK IN THE LOADING DOCK AREA!9:30 - Noon Rehearsal
The rehearsal will take place on the Wharton Center Stage. Find a seat at the part you feel comfortable performing. Music will be distributed at this rehearsal and will not be mailed out in advance.
Noon - 2:30 p.m. Lunch and Relaxation (on your own)
2:30 p.m. Return to Wharton and take your seats on stage (from backstage)
You should enter the Hall from Backstage because there is a universal admission charge for all concerts; entering from the stage is FREE
3:00 p.m. Concert
The Alumni Band will perform the first half and the Symphony Band the second half of the program. Wear "dress-up" clothes.
For more information and a Registration Form for the Spring MSU Alumni Band Reunion, please contact the MSU Alumni Band (alumband@msu.edu).
Time to start practicing...
Saturday - September 11, 2004
MSU v Central Michigan University
Kickoff - 12 Noon
and...
Make plans to attend the
Evening Dinner Party
and
Golf Outing
Friday - September 10, 2004
IMPORTANT - Registration begins at 7:00 am - Rehearsal starts at 8:00 am. With the 12 Noon kickoff things will move very quickly. Lots of things to accomplish in a short amount of time. Please don't be late!!
17th Annual
MSU Alumni Concert Band Reunion
April 18, 2004
For more information and a Registration Form for the Spring MSU Alumni Band Reunion, please contact the MSU Alumni Band (alumband@msu.edu).Schedule - Sunday, April 18, 2004 - MSU's Wharton Center
8:30-9:15 AM - Registration and Hospitality
9:30 - Noon - Rehearsal
Noon - 2:30 pm - Lunch and Relaxation (on your own)
2:30 pm - Return to Wharton and take your seats on stage (from backstage)
3:00 pm - Concert (Alumni band will perform first half - MSU Symphony Band to perform second half)
Alumni Pep Bands Needed During Holiday
Director, Spartan Marching Band
Associate Director of Bands
