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Batavia Concert Band

Principle Conductor, Guest Conductor named for 2013 Batavia Concert Band

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Batavia Concert Band Board of Directors is pleased to announce that John Bailey will be the Principle Conductor for the 2013 Batavia Concert Band Summer Concert Series.

A Pembroke native and Akron resident, Bailey is currently a music teacher at the Lyndonville Central School District, where he teaches both general and instrumental music. A French horn player, Bailey is a graduate of SUNY Fredonia, and also serves as conductor for the Pembroke Community Band. 

He was selected after the Board of Directors conducted a search for a Principle Conductor this past winter and spring. 

“Our audience and band should be looking forward to the enthusiasm that John will bring to programming exciting concerts for the Batavia community in Centennial Park,” said Jill Franclemont, president of the Board of Directors. 

“I am looking forward to continuing the fine tradition of music in the park in Batavia on sunny July evenings," Bailey said. "I plan to program a wide variety of music that will appeal to the diverse audience that attends our concerts."

John Kresse will be serving as Guest Conductor for the July 4th Concert in Centennial Park.  Currently, Kresse is a Graduate Assistant at the School of Music at SUNY Fredonia.

The Batavia Concert Band will present its first concert on Wednesday, June 26th at Centennial Park in the City of Batavia.

Batavia Concert Band accepting applications for conductor

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The Batavia Concert Band is already preparing for their 2013 Summer Concert Series in Centennial Park.  As part of those preparations, the Board of Directors is currently soliciting applications for the position of Conductor. Interested applicants may contact President Jill Arent for more information, including application materials.  Jill may be reached at lizllij@gmail.com.

Batavia Concert Band performs in Centennial Park at noon

By Billie Owens

The Batavia Concert Band will perform at noon on the Fourth of July in Centennial Park in the city. The conductor is Phil Briatico.

Its repertoire is wide-ranging in origin, period and style: marches, Big Band and swing numbers, popular songs from musicals and movies, classical adaptations, rock favorites arranged for band, fun songs for kids of all ages … and everything in between.

Event Date and Time
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Batavia Concert Band's 88th season kicks off June 20

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Batavia Concert Band’s 88th season of music-making and free public concerts begins June 20 in Centennial Park. Additional concerts and parades will feature the band at other locations and times including the ever popular July 4 Picnic In The Park.

The Batavia Concert Band’s repertoire is wide-ranging in origin, period and style: marches, Big Band and swing numbers, popular songs from musicals and movies, classical adaptations, rock favorites arranged for band, fun songs for kids of all ages … and everything in between.

The band consists of about 50 brass, woodwind and percussion players ranging from talented local high school students to 60-year veterans. Many have professional experience; the rest are advanced amateur musicians. All love to play.

The conductor’s podium will be shared by a team of Batavia Concert Band conducting veterans, to be announced. Derek Reiss and Dizzy will again cap this year’s Concerts in the Park on Aug. 8 as a benefit fundraiser for the Batavia Concert Band.

Founded in the early 1920s, the Batavia Concert Band has brought musical pleasure to the region every year except during WWII. The band currently enjoys financial support from GO-ART!, concert sponsors, program advertisers, and individual patrons. The band also sponsors a “Sample of Western New York” gift certificate raffle from selected area restaurants and retailers, 50-50 raffles at every concert, bake sales and other low-key fundraisers.

Downbeat for regular season concerts is 7 Wednesday evenings in Centennial Park in the City of Batavia.

All concerts are free to the public of all ages. Light refreshments are usually available. Bring the family, some friends, lawn chairs or a blanket… and enjoy!

Info contact:  Bob Knipe, bobknipe@hotmail.com, 343-5991 / 590-6457 (cell)

Batavia Concert Band
Summer 2012 concert season

Date/Time                        Conductor

June 20 -- 7 p.m.* -- Brad Meholick
June 27 -- 7 p.m.* -- Wayne Burlison
July 4  -- 12 noon -- Phil Briatico
July 11 -- 7 p.m.* -- Jane Haggett
July 18 -- 7 p.m.* -- Phil Briatico
July 25 -- 7 p.m.* -- Wayne Burlison
Aug. 1 -- 7 p.m.* -- Jane Haggett
Aug. 8 -- 7 p.m.* -- Derek Reiss & Dizzy

(*In the event of rain, concerts will move to Genesee Community College's Stuart Steiner Theatre. Notices will be posted at the NW corner of Centennial Park and announced on WBTA radio AM1490, and http://TheBatavian.com.)

Photos: Batavia Concert Band at Centennial Park

By Howard B. Owens

The Batavia Concert Band performed in Centennial Park, Batavia, on Wednesday evening. Wayne Burlison conducted.

Click Here to purchase quality, affordable prints of these photos.

More pictures after the jump:

Batavia Concert Band ready for its 87th season

By Billie Owens

Here's a press release from the Batavia Concert Band.

The Batavia Concert Band’s 87th season of music-making and free public concerts begins June 22 in Batavia’s Centennial Park. Additional concerts and parades will feature the band at other locations and times including Batavia’s popular July 4 Picnic in the Park.

The Batavia Concert Band’s repertoire is wide-ranging in origin, period and style: marches, Big Band and swing numbers, popular songs from musicals and movies, classical adaptations, rock favorites arranged for band, fun songs for kids of all ages … and everything in between.

The band consists of about 50 brass, woodwind and percussion players ranging from talented local high school students to 60-year veterans. Many have professional experience; the rest are advanced amateur musicians. All love to play.

The conductor’s podium will be shared by veterans Phil Briatico, Wayne Burlison, Jane Haggett, Brad Meholick and Josh Pacino. Derek Reiss and Dizzy will again (tentatively) cap this year’s Concerts in the Park on Aug. 10, as a benefit fundraiser for the Batavia Concert Band.

Founded in the early 1920s, the Batavia Concert Band has brought musical pleasure to the region every year except during World War II. The band currently enjoys financial support from GO-ART!, concert sponsors, program advertisers, and individual patrons. The band also sponsors a “Sample of Western New York” gift certificate raffle from selected area restaurants and retailers, 50-50 raffles at every concert, bake sales and other low-key fundraisers.

Downbeat for regular season concerts is 7 Wednesday evenings in Centennial Park*, except a July 6 performance at the VA Medical Center, in honor of our veterans. (* In the event of rain, concerts will move to Genesee Community College’s Stuart Steiner Theater. Notices will be posted at the northwest corner of Centennial Park and announced on WBTA.)

All concerts are free. Light refreshments are usually available. Bring the family, some friends, lawn chairs or a blanket… and enjoy!

Batavia Concert Bands seeks more board members

By Billie Owens

Attention music lovers: The Batavia Concert Band is currently seeking additional board members.

The board meets every other month and oversees band management officers in preparation for the annual summer concert season.

If you are interested, please contact Pam Frisby at 343-8560.

 

Photos: Batavia Concert Band nearing season's end

By Howard B. Owens

The 86th season for the Batavia Concert Band is drawing to a close. Tonight, the group of experienced professionals and enthusiastic amatuers presented its second-to-last show of the summer at Centennial Park.

More than 200 people were on hand in the warm, beautiful evening to hear a mix of classic and popular tunes.

The Concert Band performs its finale of the season at 7 p.m. next Wednesday in Centennial Park.

Batavia Concert Band: Summer Premiere Wednesday

By Philip Anselmo

Don't forget! Tomorrow is the premiere of the Batavia Concert Band's summer season at Centennial Park. Showtime is 7:00pm. Bring your own lawn chairs. They'll supply the entertainment (and possibly some light refreshments). For a complete schedule of shows, check out our earlier post.

Here's some more info on the band, supplied by Robert Knipe (who also sent us these photos):

"The Batavia Concert Band’s repertoire is wide-ranging in origin, period and style: Sousa-style marches, Broadway show tunes, classical adaptations, fun songs for kids of all ages, big-band and swing numbers, popular songs from hit musicals and movies, rock favorites arranged for concert band… and everything in between.

"The Band consists of forty to fifty brass, woodwind and percussion players ranging from talented local high school students to 50-year veterans. Many have professional experience, and the rest are advanced amateur musicians. All love to play."

All shows are free!

Batavia Concert Band

By Philip Anselmo

Eighty-four years of anything is worth boasting about. Let us, then, boast on behalf of the Batavia Concert Band, which kicks off its 84th anniversary season June 25 in Batavia's Centennial Park.

The Batavia Concert Band’s repertoire is wide-ranging in origin, period and style: Sousa-style marches, Broadway show tunes, classical adaptations, fun songs for kids of all ages, big-band and swing numbers, popular songs from hit musicals and movies, rock favorites arranged for concert band… and everything in between.

The Band consists of forty to fifty brass, woodwind and percussion players ranging from talented local high school students to 50-year veterans. Many have professional experience, and the rest are advanced amateur musicians. All love to play.

The Batavia Concert Band has been performing here since 1924, except for a reprieve during World War II.

Its regular season concerts all start at 7:00pm, Wednesday evenings, in Centennial Park, unless it rains, and the band moves to the Genesee County Nursing Home. (See below for a complete season schedule.) All concerts are free to the public. Light refreshments are often available.

Call Bob Knipe at (585) 343-5991 for more information.

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