Huntington College News Release
Contact John W. Paff, Public Relations Director (260) 359-4048 or 358-7074
SousaFest 98 brings military musicians to Huntington
FOR RELEASE
february 23, 1998HUNTINGTON, IN— Huntington College will host its 19th Annual Band Clinic March 7-8, 1998. SousaFest 98 will be a unique educational and cultural event which will draw students from throughout the Midwest for instruction by professional military musicians. The weekend will be capped by a gala concert March 8 at 2:30 p.m. in the Merillat Centre for the Arts. The concert is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Call (260) 359-4261 for ticket information.
This year’s special clinicians in-residence include Chief Warrant Officer 2 Gary W. Dorrell, Staff Sergeant Margaret Helms, and Staff Sergeant Patrick Palumbo. Making his fifth appearance at the Huntington College band clinic, Jeffrey Taylor of the Lyric Opera of Chicago will serve as narrator and vocal soloist for the program. Other tutors and soloists include Dr. Gail Lewis (horn), Dr. Chaney Bergdall (euphonium), and Mr. Gregory Kroeker (violin).
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Gary W. Dorrell, a native of New Jersey, holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Ithaca College. He has also completed additional graduate study and holds permanent teaching certificates in New York and New Jersey. CW2 Dorrell entered active federal service in April 1986. His assignments have included a tour with the First United States Army Band, Fort Meade, Maryland, and the 33rd Army Band, Heidelberg, Germany, where he played in the band and also conducted the Soldiers Chorus. Following completion of the Warrant Officer Basic Course and Bandmaster Technical Certification Course, Mr. Dorrell was assigned to Fort Story, Virginia. Here he held the position of Projects Management Officer at the United States Army Element, School of Music. He assumed command of the 113th Army Band "Dragoons" in May, 1995. Mr. Dorrell's awards include the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Good Conduct Medal (second award), the Army Service Ribbon and the Overseas Ribbon.
Staff Sergeant Margaret Helms has been the director of bands at Oak Hill United School Corporation since 1991. Previously she was the elementary and junior high band director at Oak Hill Schools. She is a graduate of Ball State University with a Bachelor of Music degree and is currently working toward her masters degree in music. She has been a member of the Indiana Army National Guard Band for eighteen years. She is the rehearsal technician, supply sergeant, and principal clarinetist for the band, and has conducted the band for various military functions throughout the State of Indiana. She is also the principal clarinetist for the Kokomo Symphony Orchestra, a member of Kokomo Park Band, and has played in the pit orchestra for Marion Civic Theatre, Muncie Civic Theatre, and Kokomo Civic Theatre productions. She has directed the Marion Civic theatre pit orchestra for the production of Guys and Dolls.
Born in Elkhart, Indiana, Patrick L. Palumbo began his study of the trumpet in the Elkhart Community Schools. Mr. Palumbo earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Indiana University in 1985, and a Master of Music Education degree from Ball State University in 1995. He joined the 38th Infantry Division Band of the Indiana Army National Guard in 1982. After sixteen years of playing trumpet with the 38th Division Band, Mr. Palumbo currently holds the rank of Staff Sergeant and has additional responsibilities of performing on the bass clarinet and conducting the band as a rehearsal technician. He accepted his current position of director of instrumental music at the Union School Corporation, Modoc, Indiana, in 1987. Mr. Palumbo has earned many awards, including the Mid-Eastern Conference Star Educator Award, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Indiana Commendation Medal, Indiana Long Service Medal, and the Indiana Military Volunteer Emblem.
Bass-Baritone Jeffrey W. Taylor is making his fifth appearance with the band Clinic since 1993. A graduate of Indiana University (Bloomington) with a Master of Music degree, he is currently in his sixteenth year with the Lyric Opera of Chicago's professional chorus. He was vocalist and pianist for six years with the 38th Infantry Division Band, Indiana National Guard. He has sung solos in opera, oratorio, and recital throughout the East and Midwest, on national radio broadcasts, and on the New World Records compact disc of Hugo Weisgall's Six Characters in Search of an Author. He is also Director of Music at Irving Park Baptist Church in Chicago. In the fall of 1994 he gave a master class in voice at Huntington College.
Dr. Gail Lewis joined the faculty of the Jordan College of Fine Arts at Butler University in 1997, as a professor of horn and music theory. She received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in performance from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, the Master of Music degree in performance from the Eastman School of Music, and the Bachelor of Music in performance and music theory from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Lewis has served on the faculties of Columbus State University (Georgia) and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and has maintained an active schedule as a freelance performer with orchestras and chamber groups throughout the Southeast and the Midwest.
Dr. Chaney Bergdall performs euphonium with the Huntington College Wind Ensemble, the Erie Band, and church ensembles. He has served as Professor of Bible and Religion at Huntington College since 1975. He graduated in 1969 from Huntington, and received a Ph.D. in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1986. Dr. Bergdall has pastored churches in Indiana, Illinois, and California.
Mr. Gregory Kroeker, raised in Upland, Indiana, first picked up a violin at age five. He showed promise at an early age, scoring perfect marks in local and state competitions both in junior high and high school. Before accepting Ball State University's prestigious "Young Artist" scholarship, Mr. Kroeker had already performed with Marion and Muncie Symphonies, as well as other local and college groups. While continuing his musical studies at Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. He plays with the Marion, Muncie, North Manchester, and Anderson Symphonies, and will serve as Concert-Master for the Grace Community Orchestra this year. Mr. Kroeker also serves at Huntington College as adjunct faculty, coaching and performing with college and community string groups. He has recently been heard playing Bach's Concerto for Oboe and Violin with Marlene Schleiffer on the area's National Public Radio station. This is Mr. Kroeker's first solo performance at Huntington College's annual band clinic and concert.
SousaFest 98 is expected to draw students from throughout the Midwest for instruction by these accomplished musicians. Registration for the SousaFest 98 clinic is $22. Students may request free overnight lodging at Huntington College. Visiting students will be guests of Huntington College music students. Registration must be received by March 2, 1998. For additional registration information, contact the Huntington College Music Department at (260) 359-4262.
After intensive rehearsal on Saturday, band clinic participants and their instructors will present a gala performance on Sunday afternoon to show off the hard work of the previous day. The concert will begin March 8 at 2:30 p.m. in the Merillat Centre for the Arts.
The concert is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. All seats will be reserved. Tickets may be requested (limit 6) by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to "SousaFest 98," Merillat Centre for the Arts, 2303 College Ave., Huntington, IN 46750. Tickets may also be requested in person. The Merillat Centre Box Office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For further information, please call (260) 359-4261.
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