Band plans Tribute Concert to Honor Vince Polce

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance College Community Band will host a tribute concert on Saturday, March 24 to honor the late Vince Polce. The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Weaner Community Center on the DC campus.

 “Vince Polce had an immeasurable passion for music and an incredible drive to bring great music to the Defiance community,” said Andrew Schultz, director of music programs. “The new DCCB co-directors, Cathy Booth and Scott Rogers, along with the executive committee, Jim Gallehue, Chas Myers and Tony Alessandrini are working to continue those virtues. The Tribute Concert is a way for former students, colleagues and the Defiance community to celebrate the life of Vince Polce and all the music and joy he brought into our lives.”

Polce, director of the DCCB and former director of bands at Defiance High School, died Dec. 14 after courageous battle with lung cancer.

The concert song choices are reflective of Polce’s own concert planning values and will each be conducted by a different guest conductor. The guest conductors include Frank Tracz, professor of music and director of bands at Kansas State University; Michael Sweeney, director of band publications for Hal Leonard Corporation; Rod Miller, Port Clinton High School director of bands; Phil Smith, Perrysburg Junior High School orchestra teacher; Tom Groth, retired Boardman High School Band director and current Packard Concert Band director; Dale Schubert, retired director of bands at Napoleon High School; Ryan Nowlen, staff arranger/composer for the President’s Own United States Marine Band; and Rob Hennell, retired director of bands from the Orrville City Schools.

The event is free and open to the public. A reception will be held immediately following the performance.

Seating will be provided utilizing bleachers, with floor level handicap seating also available.

Shuttles will be provided to and from the Sessions Street  and College Place campus parking lots.

Defiance College, chartered in 1850, is an independent, liberal arts institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate programs of study as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of service and engagement. The college website is www.defiance.edu.

March 15, 2012