MISSION
The mission of the Richmond Symphonic Winds is to provide the best symphonic band music for the Richmond, Virginia area. Formed in 1994, the organization is comprised of professional musicians, orchestral performers, music teachers, university professors, and other dedicated band musicians in all walks of life.
LITERATURE
Conducted by Mrs. Iris Schwartz, this fifty-piece organization has performed music by Vittorio Giannini, Gustav Holst, Percy Grainger, Paul Hindemith, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Ottorino Respighi, Alfred Reed, Claude T. Smith, Richard Wagner, John Phillip Sousa, William Schuman, Leroy Anderson, James Hosay, and Robert Russell Bennett. The organization is also known for premieres and many performances of works by new Virginia composers for band such as Emory Waters, Richard Schwartz, Leigh Baxter, Mark Camphouse, David Bobrowitz, Steve Barton, and Joseph Lyman.
ABOUT THE CONDUCTOR
Mrs. Iris Schwartz was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Webster University, St. Louis. A multi-talented musician, she has played flute and piccolo for over thirty-five years with many organizations including the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Philharmonic, Gateway Festival Orchestra, Webster University Orchestra, Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, Virginia State University Concert Band and Orchestra, Die Dorfmusikanten German Band, recorder with A Company of Waites Renaissance Wind Band, and percussion in the Appomattox Brass Band.
She has been the Conductor of the Richard Bland College Community Wind Ensemble since 1979, and is also Conductor of the Orchestra for the Concert Ballet of Virginia. Iris created the Instrumental Program in the Petersburg Catholic Schools and has taught there for almost thirty years, recently receiving Teacher of the Year Award from that Institution. She is also one of the founding members of the Richmond Symphonic Winds.
CONTACTS
Mrs. Iris Schwartz, Conductor, can be contacted at irisrick@aol.com
Dr. Richard Schwartz, Concert Master and Principal Clarinet, at irisrick@aol.com
Mr. David Townsend, Personnel Manager, at mrtuba@netzero.net
NEXT REHEARSAL DATE
First of all, Iris would like to thank everyone for their excellent concert on June 10, 2008 at St. Edwards Catholic Church. It was very well received bt all. Brenner, you did a great job! Our next season will begin as usual in late September. Iris will contact everyone shortly before that time.
CONDUCTOR'S COMMENTS
Thank you all for making this year an exciting and rewarding one. With your dedication and support our band has indeed become the finest in the State of Virginia. I would like to thank Myrne McGonigle of Swift Creek Middle School for her constant support and hospitality by providing a bi-weekly rehearsal venue for our band and for coordinating our annual Concerts at her school.
PERSONNEL LIST
Piccolo: Nancy Rubin
Flutes: Michelle Matts, Lisa Wheeler, Kathy Whittle, Tom Smith, Tim Arnette
Oboe: Aronne La Fratta, Lisa Bilski
Eb Clarinet: Michael Goldberg
Bb Clarinets: Richard Schwartz, Marc Krauss, Denny Walters, Harvey Schenkein, Katrina Goodwin, Geri Ports, Lisa Bilski, Mary Ann Waters, Michael Holmes, Elizabeth Gunn
Bass Clarinet: Doug Hurt
Bassoons: Myrne McGonigle, Scott Schenkein
Alto Saxophones: Daniel Edwards, James Brooks
Tenor Saxophone: James Featherstone
Baritone Saxophone: Mike McPhillips
Trumpets/Cornets: Brenner Pugh, Mike Worthington, Gary Holland, Stan Goldman, Bill Booth, Bonnie Versoza
Horns: Amanda Burton, Beth Miksovic, Emory Waters, Dale Dean, Amy Roberts
Trombones: Pete Pettit, John Carroll, John McClave, Bob Ellithorpe
Euphonium: Mark La Fratta, Bob Gangwer
Tubas: David Townsend, David Simmons
Percussion: Ron Holmstrand, Phillip High
Tympani: Steve Raybould
LINKS ON THE WEB
The Cornet Compendium
The History and Development of the Nineteeth-Century Cornet
Vintage Cornets
A Website dedicated to photographs and restoration of historical cornets
Historic Brass Society
Internationally recognized scholarly society for brass enthusiasts
Wind Band Chronicle
A new website dedicated to bands and their literature
Bands at the St. Louis World's Fair of 1904: Information, Photographs, and Database
A 457 page book dealing with the history of the bands at the St. Louis World's Fair. The book includes information about the bands, historical entries for over twenty of them including Sousa, Innes, Conterno, Government Indian Band, and the Kilties, over fifty photographs (some very rare and in color) of bands and conductors at the event, and a 315 page (12,000 entry) database of all compositions played by the bands at the event. For more information click the link above.