SUNDAY, JULY 27 CONCERTS @ 3:30 and 7:30 p.m.

The St. Joseph Municipal Band continues the 2008 summer season with its normal set of double concerts on Sunday, July 29, at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. The weekly summer concerts are held at the John E. N. Howard Band Shell in downtown St. Joseph overlooked Lake Michigan. The July 27 concerts, the 6^th of 12 double concerts scheduled for the season, will feature The B. E. S. T. Musical Theater Summer Workshop will present special performances developed during their summer workshop. Chistopher Keech, Saxophone section leader of the band will perform an alto saxophone solo.

Director Dr. Donald Moely, indicated the concert begins with "Robinson’s Grand Entree March," by K. L. King, followed by an extensive work by John Zdechlik, entitled "Chorale and Shaker Dance."

The band then presents it’s alto saxophone soloist, Chirstopher Keech, who will perform a Sammy Nestico composition called "Persuasion."

Christopher S. Keech is originally from Hartford, Michigan, and received his Associate of Arts degree from Lake Michigan College. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Michigan University and currently works in the Southwest Michigan area as a private woodwind instructor, free-lance music arranger and copyist. Mr. Keech is a Woodwind and Jazz Artist-In-Residence for the St. Joseph Public Schools and a music instructor at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac, Michigan. Christopher taught 4th and 5th grade elementary music in his hometown of Hartford. He is also very active as a musician, performing with many outstanding local jazz artists, including Jim Cooper and Ed Bagatini. Mr. Keech has been fortunate enough to perform with such pop artists as Captain and Tennille, Michael Bolton, The Temptations, and jazz legends John Lewis and Jimmy Heath. As a member of many professional music groups, Christopher has performed in 18 countries, and in 49 of our 50 states. Now living in St. Joseph, Christopher is the present Music Director of Lake Effect Jazz Big Band, a 20-piece, contemporary, concert jazz ensemble based in St. Joseph

Special guest performers for the concerts will be B.E.S.T. ensemble performing Musical Theater excerpts, which will be announced at both the afternoon and evening programs. 

Mr. Paul Mow, director of the summer workshop, was on the roster of the New York City Opera for over four years, performing both leading & secondary roles as well as covers in a multitude of productions. In addition to NYCO at Lincoln Center, Mr. Mow has enjoyed several engagements at Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall in New York City.

Coreographer for the groups is Lari Lawrence who earned her B.A. in Dance from Western Michigan University in 2001. While a student, Lari was a member of the Children’s Repertory Dance Theatre and performed in many lecture demonstrations.  In the fall of 2004, Lari returned to West Michigan and served as Interim Dance Director for the Berrien County Dancers in Stevensville. She also began teaching at the Citadel Dance Center and soon after became resident choreographer with Children’s Music Workshop. Since her return, she has spent much of her time choreographing music theater and has worked with high schools all over West Michigan.

Vocal music instructor is Genette Gillard. Genette received a Masters Degree in Education and Fine Arts from Michigan State University. She has many years of teaching experience in Benton Harbor and St. Joseph and currently serves as Music Director for the Pilgrim Congregational Church. She was a featured soloist in the Michiana area and Europe, and has performed with Lakeland Choral Society, Twin Cities Symphony, Monday Musical, and OPUS NINE. Genette also teaches privately.

The band returns with "Relax Rumba," by Paul Yoder, and celebrates composer Leroy Anderson’s 100^th anniversary with one of his popular tunes, "Blue Tango,." The concert concludes with Rolling Thunder, by Henry Fillmore.