Defiance College Community Band’s Season-Opening Concert to be held November 11

The season-opening concert of the Defiance College Community Band  will salute the nation’s veterans. “A Tribute to Our Veterans…Defenders of Freedom” will be held on Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the Defiance Community Auditorium.

Under the baton of musical director Vincent Polce, the DCCB will perform a variety of musical selections that will include overtures, marches by Sousa, patriotic melodies, and also featuring local and guest soloists. 

“During this special Veterans Day concert our program will pay tribute to all military personnel and their families,” said Polce. “Of special interest will be a section of the concert devoted to the men and women who served in World War II,” he continued.  “We are pleased to be working with Mike Williams of the Defiance Veterans Administration Office in this venture.”

The concert will feature vocalist Master Sgt. Jay Edwards (retired) of the 555th unit of the Air Force Guard Band in Toledo. He will perform popular melodies from WWII including “The White Cliffs of Dover,” “Thanks for the Memory,” and “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree.”   Also featured will be the Trumpet Trio of the DCCB that includes Tim Booth, Tom Jenny, and Andrew Feyes.

Serving as guest conductor will be Conductor Laureate Richard Stroede as he leads the band in “Fantasia on Dixie.”  A feature will be the narration of a speech given by General Douglas MacArthur at the U.S. Military Academy in 1962.  Guest narrator is well-known World War II veteran Richard Small of Defiance.

The grand finale will be a special appearance by a 70-voice choir conducted by Stroede.  It is comprised of members of the Defiance area churches and they will join with the band in “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”  The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6:45 p.m. 

The concert is free and open to the public.

Defiance College is an independent, liberal arts institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate majors as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of engagement. U. S. News & World Report ranks Defiance in the top tier of comprehensive colleges in the Midwest. The college website is www.defiance.edu.

October 8, 2008