For media information
Contact: Mario Incorvaia, 912.921.5496
For Immediate Release
Courtesy
of the
Department of Art, Music & Theatre
Savannah's Cultural Center on the Southside
Savannah Winds To Honor America, Her Service Men &
Women, and Veterans of the United States Armed Forces In the Annual
Patriotic Concert And Barbecue Dinner An "Ed and Friends"
Concert Event
July 4, 2004
Savannah,
GA—June 29, 2004—The Armstrong Atlantic State University
Department of Art, Music & Theatre (AASU AMT) honors America,
her service men and women, and all veterans of the United States Armed
Forces with the annual Savannah Winds Independence Day Patriotic Concert
and Barbecue Dinner at the AASU Fine Arts Hall Auditorium on Sunday,
July 4 at 3 p.m. This star-spangled performance salutes the countless
courageous individuals, both past and present, who have sacrificed
for Uncle Sam’s red, white, and blue. Ken and Candi’s Bar-B-Q
continues its affiliation with the concert that began last year by
providing a barbecue dinner immediately following the concert.
Mark. B. Johnson, principal conductor and music director of the Savannah
Winds, has again programmed a concert that will honor veterans of
the armed forces with a victorious musical parade of traditional American
patriotic favorites.
The tour de force program will commence with the presentation of our
great nation’s colors, posted by members of the Air National
Guard’s 165th airlift wing under the direction of Master Sergeant
T.J. Reese while the ensemble performs our national anthem, The Star
Spangled Banner. Other concert highlights include a performance of
The President’s Own March, Copland’s unforgettable tone
poem Lincoln Portrait, and Savannah Winds time tested favorites: Lee
Greenwood’s God Bless The USA and Sousa’s incomparable crowd
pleasing march Stars and Stripes Forever.
As a testament to the commanding power of words set to music, The
Savannah Winds perform with narration the awe-inspiring work I Am
The Nation. This patriotic poem is set to a special wind ensemble
arrangement of America the Beautiful and is a perennial Patriotic
Concert audience favorite.
The presence and participation of various local military units in
the full splendor and grandeur of their dress uniform attire will
visually reinforce the permeating sense of patriotism surrounding
this event.
During the concert, AASU AMT and the Savannah Winds will reiterate
the vast importance of our freedom by recognizing Jerry Walker, the
recipient of the 2003-2004 "Chatham County Veteran of the Year"
award, as chosen last fall by the Chatham County Veterans Council.
Walker, currently the commander of the Military Order of the Purple
Heart, Chapter 596, will say a few words in acceptance of this award.
Colonel Ronald D. Tuggle, the commander of the Aviation Brigade of
the 3d Infantry Division (Mechanized) based at Hunter Army Airfield,
will conduct the honors in recognizing Walker as the Veteran of the
Year, and the Savannah Winds will perform Henry Fillmore’s His
Honor March to pay him tribute.
Sing-Along… Amongst the many other tunes on the program, including:
The Washington Post-March, by John Philip Sousa, E.E. Bagley’s
National Emblem-March, America the Beautiful, by Ward/arr. Dragon,
and a local favorite Armed Forces Salute, by Bob Lowden, the audience
will have their own opportunity to participate in this concert, when
the Savannah Winds perform The Ultimate Patriotic Sing-Along, arranged
by Jerry Brubaker. Brubaker’s medley contains The Battle Hymn
of The Republic, America the Beautiful, You’re a Grand Old Flag,
and God Bless America.
Barbecue Dinner… Building upon a 2003 Concert addition to the
Annual Patriotic Concert festivities, Ken and Candi’s Bar-B-Q
will be on hand to provide a delicious barbecue dinner immediately
following the concert and located in the air-conditioned indoor setting
of the AASU Cafeteria, a very short walk from Fine Arts Hall. Ken
and Candi’s barbecue dinner will consist of barbecue pork sandwich,
baked beans, potato chips, and sweet or unsweetened tea.
Ed Caughran of "Ed & Friends" fame … The Annual
Patriotic Concert originated as a cornerstone of the "Ed &
Friends" concert series. The "Ed & Friends" tradition
celebrates the numerous achievements of Ed Caughran, retired fine
arts coordinator and music specialist for the Savannah-Chatham County
Public Schools. For many years, Caughran was a major force in developing
the music education programs in Savannah. He later served at AASU
as special assistant for the instrumental and music education program
at Armstrong Atlantic. AASU is proud to continue his legacy of musical
support by presenting this annual patriotic concert. Above and beyond
the impact that Caughran has made in the Savannah music education
world, he and his family have made significant annual financial contributions
toward the AASU Music Scholarship Fund in honor of J. Patrick Evans,
M.D.
The Savannah Winds is an ensemble whose membership is comprised of
AASU students as well as local musicians ranging in age from teenagers
to players in their eighties. The ensemble has come to be regarded
as Savannah’s premier community wind ensemble. It regularly performs
patriotic, standard, and art music of the vast and rich wind ensemble
repertoire.
Johnson’s conducting responsibilities at AASU include leading
the Savannah Winds, the university wind ensemble, and various chamber
ensembles. He also teaches conducting, music education courses, and
he coordinates the wind and brass studies divisions. Johnson is a
doctorate of musical arts-band and orchestral conducting candidate
at the University of Kansas. He received his master’s of music
degree in conducting and brass pedagogy from Louisiana State University
and his bachelor’s of music education degree from Murray State
University.
Tickets are on sale now! General admission tickets to the 2004 Savannah
Winds Annual Patriotic Concert and Barbecue Dinner are on sale for
only $8 in advance ($10 at the door), while senior citizens, military
personnel, and children/students may purchase tickets for $6 each
in advance ($8 at the door). Barbecue dinners are available for $7.50
per person.
Advance tickets may be purchased in person at the AASU AMT Box Office,
located in the AASU Fine Arts Building. AASU AMT box office hours
are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays (cash or check only, please).
To purchase advance concert and/or barbecue dinner tickets by mail,
please send payment (cash or check only, please) and a self-addressed,
stamped envelope, including a note indicating number of tickets at
each price level and number of barbecue dinner tickets, to:
Savannah Winds Patriotic Concert and Barbecue Dinner Tickets
Department of Art, Music & Theatre
Armstrong Atlantic State University
11935 Abercorn Street
Savannah, Georgia 31419-1997
Please make checks payable to AASU Department of Art, Music &
Theatre.
Any remaining seats will be sold at the door.
All concert ticket proceeds and a portion of barbecue dinner sales
benefit the AASU Music Scholarship Fund.
Call 927.5381 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, for concert or departmental
information.
