The Advocate Brass Band of Danville has settled back in after a December trip to Trinidad. The colorful trip included convincing the St. James Tripolians Steel Orchestra to perform at this year's festival. While on the trip, the group also performed in Venezuela.
"Those were the sixth and seventh countries the band played in and actually the third continent," says George Foreman, conductor.
The band added the other countries during a tour of Europe in the summer of 2000. During the tour in July and August, the Advocate band performed in Herforst and Leimen, Germany, and in towns in Luxembourg, Belgium and The Netherlands.
Another big venture for the group, which formed in 1987, was a visit to New Orleans. The band, which debuted at a political rally sponsored by The Advocate-Messenger, has about 35 members. Members of The Advocate Brass Band include internationally known trumpet player Vince DiMartino, as well as high school band directors, college students, physicians, engineers and retirees.
Exploring the world of newspaper marches has resulted in several recordings for the band. The group's most recent release was "My Old Kentucky Home," where all the songs are related to Kentucky.
The others CDs cover a wide range of selections, ranging from probably the best known, "The Washington Post March," to the more local, "Advocate-Messenger March," written in 1990 for the band.
The Advocate band usually performs in three spring concerts and three fall concerts in Danville.
Foreman says at this year's festival, the group is looking forward to being the backup band for Daniel Rodriguez, a New York policeman who was involved in 9-11. Rodriguez will be singing Sunday.
On Saturday, the Advocate band will be the main component of Celebrate America.
"We're participating in the patriotic remembrances," Foreman says. Dennis Burian, who retired last fall after 32 years with the "President's Own" U.S. Marine Band, will be doing some guest conducting.
On Friday, the Advocate band will perform at the history conference.
"Three papers in the morning deal with 19th century band masters and we'll be playing music they composed," Foreman says. The composers are P.S. Gilmore. Claudio Grafullla and Frederick Innes.