Advocate band looking for new director

By BRENDA S. EDWARDS
brenda@amnews.com

The Advocate Brass Band is very much alive and will continue to entertain people during concerts.

"We very much support the band and want it to continue to be the lead band during the Great American Brass Band Festival," said Scott S. Schurz Jr., editor and publisher at The Advocate-Messenger.

Schurz said band members have expressed interest in keeping the band together and The Advocate will continue its support.

The decision was made Wednesday evening during a meeting of band officers and The Advocate as plans were made for hiring a new director to replace George Foreman, who resigned last week.

While the regular fall concerts will not be held this year because of scheduling conflicts with some of the band members, and the lack of a director, one will be scheduled later this fall and a concert to welcome the Christmas season is tentatively planned. A guest director will be secured for the fall and holiday concerts, Schurz said.

"We're looking to try some new things with the band," Schurz said, noting those at the meeting Wednesday want the band to play more upbeat pieces along with the traditional marches.

"We hope to be more visual in the community and investigate new venues within the region," Schurz said. "We're excited to have the opportunity to try new things with the band."

Spoonamore still band manager

Dudley Spoonamore has agreed to continue as band manager. "I'm delighted to continue as manager to keep the band going and make sure we have the personnel in place to maintain the band," said Spoonamore. "I feel very positive of the future of the brass band after the meeting."

Spoonamore has a son in band and a daughter who hopes to become a member when she gets a little older. He thinks the band can be a big help to band students in local schools. "I'm excited about the prospect of doing different types of music," Spoonamore said. "We'd like to get more high school musicians involved in the band so they can experience music of all styles and pieces that are popular in the big band era. When we play overtures, the public always has nice comments about our music."

Spoonamore said the band has talented arrangers and the members have always enjoyed being a part of the band.

"We want to keep going full speed," he said.

Copyright The Advocate-Messenger 2006
This article ran in the Advocate-Messenger on Aug. 31, 2006.

Back to Articles & Reviews

Back to Articles Home