MEDIA RELEASE

Association of Concert Bands 2008 National Convention

MEDIA RELEASE - For immediate release February 25, 2008

[Corning, NY] The Corning Area Community Concert Band will

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host the 30^th National Convention of the Association of Concert Bands (ACB) in Corning, NY, April 2 through 5, 2008. Nine free concert performances will be held at the Corning Museum of Glass Auditorium during the convention. The official website is www.acbcorning.org. 

The United States Military Academy Band at West Point, CPT Treg Ancelet Conductor, will perform Wednesday April 2 at 8 p.m. For this performance only, free advance tickets may be reserved by calling 607-962-0707 or email at .

For all other concerts, admission is free and no tickets are required. On Thursday, April 3, two bands from New York State will perform. The Hornell Area Wind Ensemble, Edward Belin Conductor, will perform at 7:30 p.m. The Perinton Concert Band from Rochester, Charles Van Buren Conductor, will perform at 8:40 on April 3.

Two bands from Pennsylvania will perform on Friday, April 4. The Repasz Band from Williamsport, Albert J. Nacinovich Conductor, will perform at 7:30 p.m. The East Winds Symphonic Band from Pittsburg, Susan Sands Conductor, will perform at 8:40 p.m.

There will be two performances Saturday afternoon April 5. The Chesapeake Brass Band from Newark, Delaware will perform at 2:00 p.m., with Ed Hockersmith Conductor. At 3:10 p.m. the Honeoye Falls Community Concert Band from Honeoye Falls, NY, will perform, with Lindsey J. Borden Conductor.

Evening performances on Saturday will start with the Association of Concert Bands’ 2008 Convention Band performing at 7:30 p.m. Distinguished Professor Allan McMurray of the University of Colorado at Boulder will conduct. 

At 8:40 p.m. on Saturday April 5 the Corning Area Community Concert Band will perform, with John Stranges Conductor. The Corning Band will be joined by trombone soloist Harry Watters of the U.S. Army Band in Washington D.C., and a harmonica ensemble consisting of Ken Van Etten of Corning and the Sgro Brothers of Elmira, formerly with the Johnny Puelo Harmonica Gang. Special Guest Conductor Noah Lee, Past President of ACB, will conduct “Red Rhythm Valley”, in memory of Herb Schultz, another Past President of ACB who passed away in October 2007. Special Guest Conductor John Edmondson will conduct the premier performance of his “ACB March”, written especially for the ACB Convention. Mr. Edmondson is an internationally known composer-arranger with nearly 1000 published works.

Convention Band rehearsals, presentations and convention accommodations will be at the Radisson Hotel in Corning. Becky and John Stranges and Donna and Jim Caneen are co-chairing the convention, along with the 70 members of the Corning Area Community Concert Band.

This convention is made possible, in part, with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts’ Decentralization Grant Program administrated locally by the ARTS of the Southern Finger Lakes. The convention is also partially funded by Corning Incorporated Foundation and by the Community Foundation.

The Association of Concert Bands (ACB) is a support group for community bands throughout the world. The ACB was founded in August 1977 as a nonprofit corporation to encourage and foster adult concert, community, municipal and civic bands while emphasizing the highest quality of performance standards of traditional and contemporary band literature. ACB members include bands, individuals and corporations dedicated to serve the needs of adult instrumental musicians who perform in and lead community bands.

The Corning Area Community Concert Band, originated in 1975, consists of musicians of all ages. The band is conducted by John Stranges. The band has dozens of performances every year, including concerts, community events, and parades..

CONTACTS

For more information contact:
  Jim Trondsen, 607-937-2624 weekdays, 607-962-5157 evenings or email.
  John Stranges, 607-329-3487, or email