The Broome County Music
Educators’ Association
www.bcmeany.org
Presents:
MUSIC FESTIVALS
2016
Festival I – February 27
Festival II - March 5
Festival III - March 12
Concert
Binghamton University
Osterhout Concert Theater
3:00 p.m.
BCMEA
2016 Festival
Binghamton City Schools
Festival I
February 26-27, 2016
Special thanks to:
Binghamton City Schools’
administration, faculty and staff,
for their coordination of this musical event.
Festival Coordinator
Elizabeth Bartlett
5-6 Orchestra Co-chairpeople
Ruth Fisher and Laura Hine
7-9 Chorus Chairperson
Beth Shanfelt
10-12 Band Chairperson
Joel Smales
Sue Belcher - Orchestra
Mrs. Susan Bechler comes to us from a long career teaching elementary and middle-school strings and orchestra. She earned a Bachelor of Music at SUNY Fredonia, and did graduate work at SUNY Potsdam, SUNY New Paltz, and the Eastman School of Music. She retired from Victor Central Schools. Mrs. Bechler studied violin and piano from early childhood, and also plays and teaches viola and cello. She continues to teach a large studio of private students, ages 5-83. She has been on staff at NY-ASTA and New Horizons camps, and serves as adjunct violin tutor at Ashokan Music and Dance. An active fiddler, Mrs. Bechler especially enjoys old-time and Cajun fiddle music and plays lead in a Cajun band, “Bayou Aces”, in Rochester, NY. Besides music, Mrs. Bechler enjoys gardening, collecting antique kitchen implements, rides in the country, and reading. She has four cats: Spooky, Blackie, Porky and Hisser, and lives in the home she grew up in.
Kristina Ruffo - Chorus
Kristina Ruffo is in her twelfth year of teaching at Maine-Endwell High School in Endwell, NY. She currently directs the Mixed Chorus, Honor’s Women’s Chorus, teaches small group vocal lessons, Music Theory I, History of Rock and Roll, and is musical director for the theatre program. Under her direction, both choral ensembles have received Gold and Gold with Distinction at the NYSSMA Major Organization Festival each year. Mrs. Ruffo received her Bachelor’s Degree from Ithaca College in Music Education and thanks Dr. Galván for all the opportunities while working with her. She earned her Master’s Degree in conducting from Binghamton University under Dr. Bruce Borton. Mrs. Ruffo is a recipient of the 2014 Founder’s Day NYS Honorary Life Award and has been recognized for Excellence in teaching in 2010 by the M-E Schools. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Binghamton University, serving as the Musical Director for the Main Stage Theater productions.
Dr. Paula Holcomb - Band
Dr. Paula Holcomb came to the State University of New York at Fredonia in 1999 as Director of Bands after serving in a similar position for 20 years at Central College in Pella, Iowa. Under her direction at Central College, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Symphonic Band toured internationally to Canada, Europe, and Mexico and performed at Alice Tully Hall of New York City's Lincoln Center. At Fredonia, the extensive band program consists of four concert bands. Dr. Holcomb conducts the Wind Ensemble and musicals, and teaches graduate and undergraduate conducting. Additionally, she initiated the conducting program as part of the Master of Music in Performance.
Highly sought after as an adjudicator and guest conductor, Dr. Holcomb has conducted bands and orchestras in 39 states, South America, Australia, Mexico, Europe, and Canada. She has presented Conducting Symposiums in Canada, South America, Australia and the United States. Dr. Holcomb is former assistant horn of the Des Moines Symphony and past president of the Iowa Music Educators Association. Recently, she was presented with the A. Frank Miller award from Kappa Kappa Psi, served on the Council and Artistic Planning Conference Committee for the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, serving on the board of the Conductors Guild and is currently Northeastern Division President-elect of the College Band Directors National Association.
BCMEA Gr. 5-6 Orchestra Selections
Guest Conductor – Sue Belcher
Fanfare and Coronation Richard Meyer
Can-Can Jacques Offenbach
arr. Merle J. Isaac
Suo Gan Traditional Welsh Song
arr. Larry Clark
Down By the Riverside American Traditional Song
arr. Merle J. Isaac
BCMEA Gr. 7-9 Chorus Selections
Guest Conductor – Kristina Ruffo
Accompanist – James Apicella
The Heavens Are Telling from "The Creation" Franz Joseph Haydn
arr. Ruth Artman
Freedom is Coming collected by Anders Nyberg
arr. Henry H. Leck
Shut De Do Randy Stonehill
arr. Tom Fettke & Thomas Grassi
Let Music Live! Greg Gilpin
BCMEA Gr. 10-12 Band Selections
Guest Conductor – Dr. Paula Holcomb
Danzon No. 2 Arturo Marquez
transcribed by Oliver Nickel
Down a Country Lane Aaron Copland
transcribed by Merlin Patterson
Galop Dmitri Shostakovich
BCMEA
2016 Festival
Susquehanna Valley Central Schools
Festival II
March 4-5, 2016
Special thanks to:
Susquehanna Valley Central Schools’
administration, faculty and staff,
for their coordination of this musical event.
Festival Coordinator
Meggan Olds
10-12 Jazz Ensemble Co-Chairpeople
Christopher McAllister and Robin Linaberry
5-6 Chorus Chairperson
Jennifer Perkins
7-9 Band Co-Chairpeople
Kelly Dyson and Johanna Reed
10-12 Orchestra Chairperson
Eileen Miller
Bret Zvacek - Jazz Ensemble
Bret Zvacek is a multi-faceted musician deeply involved in performing, composing, arranging and teaching. He is Director of Jazz Studies and Associate Professor of Music at The Crane School of Music, Potsdam, New York, and has also served as an adjunct faculty member of the Jazz Studies department at McGill University, Montreal. He has led ensembles on tour and in competition in Europe and North America, and has guest conducted and adjudicated in Finland, England, Canada, New York, Massachusetts, Texas, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, and Iowa. Bret was a member of the Jazz Studies faculty at the University of North Texas, where he taught improvisation and ensembles, and founded the Contemporary Jazz Orchestra. As a student, he performed as a soloist with the University of North Texas One O'clock Lab Band.
As a published composer and arranger, Bret has more than 25 compositions and arrangements for the big band idiom to his credit. He traveled to Helsinki, Finland, in March of 1996 to be featured as guest composer, conductor, and performer with the UMO Jazz Orchestra. Bret's music has been performed and recorded by professional groups including the UMO Jazz Orchestra, the Air Force Band Night Flight Jazz Ensemble, the Bruce Gates Jazz Consortium Big Band, the Trilogy Big Band, and also by college and university groups at the Manhattan School of Music, University of North Texas, University of Northern Colorado, University of Massachusetts, and McGill University.
Currently an active educator and performer in the Northern New York area and Canada, Bret's professional credits include appearances with jazz artists ranging from Conte Candoli to Kenny Wheeler, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation recordings, Bob Hope, Engelbert Humperdink, The Temptations, Disneyland, and the Chamber Orchestra of Northern New York, along with live and studio recordings in New York, Dallas, Montreal, Europe and Australia.
Marjorie Bohn - Chorus
Marjorie Bohn has been teaching music for 16 years and has held positions at every level from kindergarten through college. She received her Bachelor’s and Masters of Music in Music Education from SUNY Fredonia. Mrs. Bohn started her career in Leesburg, Virginia where she taught K-5 general music and chorus. From there, she moved to the greater Rochester area where she taught 7-12 grade general music, music theory, voice lessons, and directed three choral ensembles and the elementary operetta. Marjorie co taught Junior Choral Methods and University Chorus at SUNY Fredonia while earning her Master’s degree and working as an elementary music teacher in the Lakeshore School District. Mrs. Bohn is currently the elementary vocal director and general music teacher at Brocton Central School where she also directs and choreographs the high school musicals.
Mrs. Bohn is also the Artistic Director of the Chautauqua Youth Chorus, a non-for-profit ensemble-in residence at Fredonia State University of New York. CYC is made up of three choirs representing 13 school districts. They have performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, and the Chautauqua Symphony, and have toured Alaska, Iowa, Hawaii, Nashville, Tennessee, Chicago, Illinois, Orlando, Florida, Nassau, England, and Italy.
Marjorie was the guest conductor for the 2011 Onondaga Elementary All County Chorus, the 2013 Monroe Elementary All County Chorus, and the 2015 Wayne Elementary All County Chorus. She is an active member of NAfME, ACDA, and CCMTA. Mrs. Bohn resides in Dunkirk, New York, with her husband, Andrew, and their three children, Jeremy, Marencia, and Parker.
Hope Lewis - Band
Hope Lewis is a music teacher in Trumansburg Central Schools, graduating from Ithaca College in 1994 (receiving a Bachelor in Music Ed.) and SUNY Potsdam, Crane School of Music in 2000 (receiving a Master in Music Ed.). Hope began her career at Trumansburg Middle School, teaching band, chorus and general music. After seven years at that level she moved to the high school level, as the instrumental teacher (leading a concert band, wind ensemble, jazz band, pep band and marching band). Over the years her position has evolved into band director/department chair/AP music theory/guitar/elementary chorus teacher.
Hope is active in the music community, having served in her county organization (STMEA) as secretary and President for many years. She is now the county librarian, head of the scholarship committee and serves on other committees. Hope is the festival coordinator for the Zone 3 Area All-State festival at Ithaca College. Hope also coordinates with local community groups to bring high school musicians out into the community to perform and has participated with the Ithaca Community Concert Band on numerous occasions. In the school community, Hope has music directed about 19 musicals, commissioned works for her band, participated in many music trips and band exchanges with other music colleagues. She is the adviser for National Honor Society, has been the yearbook coordinator, and student council adviser as well as served on numerous committees for school improvement/scheduling. She has helped raise money and create a fund for students to pursue musical interests in the summer months.
Hope’s most inspiring professional developments occurred when she took a course through the Band Directors Academy with Wynton Marsalis and a separate conducting course with Anthony Maiello. These experiences have shaped the Hope’s music teaching to continue focus on students creating their own music through their small ensembles, as well as performing.
David Beck - Orchestra
Mr. David Beck is currently at the Bethlehem Central School District in Delmar NY where he has been a string specialist since 1991. While currently at the high School, his duties have included teaching the string lesson in grades 6 – 12, the sixth grade orchestra, the 7/8th grade orchestra, and currently the High School’s Concert and Symphony Orchestra. During his time at Bethlehem Central Schools, he has also established a chamber music program for strings. His ensembles have been consistently awarded “Gold” and Gold with Distinction” at the New York State Music Association Major Organization Festival and has performed at the state capitol, the New York Governor’s Mansion and the New York School Boards Association.
Mr. Beck maintains a rigorous schedule as a performer, teacher, NYSSMA Adjudicator, and Conductor. For NYSSMA, Mr. Beck is a certified adjudicator for solo/ensembles, All-State, and Major Organizations. He has also held volunteer positions for NYSSMA including All-State Orchestra Chairperson and Winter Conference String Chair. Mr. Beck has received awards for his teaching from Northwestern University, The Times Union Newspaper, the Capitol District YMCA, and ASCAP’s adventurous programing Youth Orchestra division to Znew a few.
Mr. Beck has worked as a festival clinician for elementary, middle, and high school orchestras throughout New York, Connecticut, and Florida. He has been a conductor of Orchestras at Eastern U.S. Music Camp from 1995-2014, has been the faculty of Laurel Music camp in New Hartford Connecticut from 1987- 2005 and currently a conductor for the AMA Red Tour Orchestra. Since March of 2000, he has been the conductor of the Empire State Repertory Orchestra in Upstate New York having that orchestra perform in the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood. Other Orchestras that he has worked with include the Delmar Community Orchestra from 1999 – 2004 as well as the West Hartford Music Club, and the Connecticut Valley Chamber Orchestra.
Mr. Beck maintains an active performing career as a freelance cellist, tubist, bassist, and bass guitarists. He has been a member of several ensembles including the New Britian Symphony, Meridan Symphony, Connecticut Valley Chamber Orchestra, Glens Falls Symphony, the capitol District Wind Ensemble, and the Schenectady Light opera Company to name a few. Mr. Beck received his Bachelors of Music Degree in Music Education from Ithaca College where he was a double major on cello and tuba. Ha received his Masters of Music Degree in Orchestral Conducting from the Hartt School of Music.
BCMEA Gr. 10-12 Jazz Ensemble Selections
Guest Conductor – Bret Zvacek
Encantadora Bret Zvacek
Big Dipper Composed and arranged by Thad Jones
Louisiana BeBop Composed and arranged by Les Hooper
Back To The Basement Bret Zvacek
BCMEA Gr. 5-6 Chorus Selections
Guest Conductor – Marjorie Bohn
Accompanist – James Apicella
It’s a Wonderful Thing To Be Me! Words by Marcy Henchen and Don Besig
Music by Don Besig
J’entends Le Moulin arr. Emily Crocker
When I Open A Book Marylou Dunn and Sherri Porterfield
Goliath Joseph M. Martin
BCMEA Gr. 7-9 Band Selections
Guest Conductor – Hope Lewis
Instant Concert Harold Walters
Drums of the Saamis Samuel R Hazo
Chorale and Shaker Dance II John Zdechlik
Ghost Fleet Robert Sheldon
BCMEA Gr. 10-12 String Orchestra Selections
Guest Conductor – David Beck
String Quartet in G major, K. 156 Wolfgang A. Mozart
Mvt. 1 Presto
St. Paul’s Suite Gustav Holst
Mvt. 3 Intermezzo
Pizzicato Blues Darren Mitchell
Folk Tune Air and Fiddler’s Fury Alexander Safford
BCMEA
2016 Festival
Whitney Point Schools
Festival III
March 11-12, 2016
Special thanks to:
Whitney Point Schools’
administration, faculty and staff,
for their coordination of this musical event.
Festival Coordinator
Jess Williamson
5-6 Band Chairperson
Kris Gilbert
7-9 Orchestra Chairperson
Barbara Heinle
10-12 Chorus Chairperson
Ken Jones
Matt Clauhs - Band
Matthew Clauhs is the coordinator of music for Johnson City Central School District. He was formerly the director of Jazz Studies at Boston’s Performing Arts High School and an instructor for the Berklee College of Music Urban Outreach program. Dr. Clauhs has served as an adjunct professor at Ithaca College, SUNY Broome, and Morrisville State, where he taught music technology, ensembles, and jazz arranging. At Temple University, he was an instructor for woodwind methods and co-conducted the TU Campus/Community Wind Band. His research on music, race, and culture has been published in scholarly journals including School Music News, Urban Education, Visions of Research in Music Education, and Arts Education Policy Review. Dr. Clauhs is a member of the NYSSMA Research Committee and frequently presents at national music conferences, including those of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the Symposium on Music Teacher Education (SMTE), and New Directions in Music Education, as well as regional in-service conferences for NYSSMA, PMEA, and MMEA.