Advocate Brass Band announces Spring concert series

By BRENDA S. EDWARDS
brenda@amnews.com

Earle Louder
Vince DiMartino

Leaders of The Advocate Brass Band have scheduled their traditional three spring concerts, but this year have added a new location. One performance will be at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill.

The band plans to feature different types of music in addition to its traditional selections.

Two concerts are scheduled April 29. The first one is 2 p.m. at Weisiger Park and the other is set for 4-4:30 p.m. at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill. A third performance will be 2 p.m. May 6 at Weisiger Park.

More and different instrumentation is planned for The Advocate band to make it possible to play a wider selection of music, according to Earle Louder and Vince DiMartino, co-directors of the band.

"We'll be doing some of the same music and also include some popular, traditional band music, show tunes and light jazz," said Louder, an euphonium player who has been a member of the band for 17 years. "We want to expand our instrumentation and add more clarinets, flutes, saxophones, and an oboe and bassoon."

More musicians will be added to the percussion section, said DiMartino, a trumpeter.

High school students and anyone who has been involved in band are encouraged to join The Advocate band, which currently has 35-40 members.

"We're open to more community participation," Louder said.

DiMartino, Louder to share the conducting

DiMartino added, "We're hoping some of the area high school students who want to learn to sight-read better will join."

Those interested are invited to a pizza party and reading session 6:30 p.m. April 10. Contact Dudley Spoonamore at techedman@bellsouth.net for information on becoming a band member.

DiMartino, a professor at Centre College who has been with the band since its inception in 1987, and Louder will share the conducting.

"Earle is a wonderful musician and we're happy to have him with us," said DiMartino.

He called Louder "a premier euphonium player" who is known all over the world. Louder also directs choirs and conducts art camps on the national and international level.

Louder will continue to play a few pieces on the euphonium and do solos at the spring concerts.

DiMartino admits his first love is playing but said he and Louder have the experience to conduct. Both musicians have worked with students in middle and high schools, college and military bands. Both play professionally and Louder also is a singer.

Community chorus

Louder taught music at Morehead State University for 28 years before he retired in 1996. He is a freelance performer and keeps busy conducting music clinics and concerts.

"I enjoy making my own agenda," he said. "I really miss the everyday contact with the young people. That's why I keep performing."

The band also will perform June 8-10 at the 18th annual Great American Brass Band Festival and plans a holiday performance in December.

Louder said local church choirs will be asked to join a community chorus and sing Christmas songs during the holiday gala.

"We're looking forward to December when we will have a sing-a-long," Louder said.

Copyright The Advocate-Messenger 2007

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