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 from all walks of life.
LITERATURE
Conducted by Mrs. Iris Schwartz, this fifty-piece organization has performed music by Leroy Anderson, Robert Russell Bennett, Vittorio Giannini, Percy Grainger, Paul Hindemith, Gustav Holst, James Hosay, Alfred Reed, Ottorino Respighi, William Schuman, Claude T. Smith, John Phillip Sousa, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Richard Wagner. The organization is also known for performances of many works and premieres of many new pieces by Virginia composers including Steve Barton, Leigh Baxter, David Bobrowitz, Mark Camphouse, Joseph Lyman, Richard Schwartz, and Emory Waters.
ABOUT THE CONDUCTOR
Iris Schwartz was born in St. Louis, Missouri and holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Webster University in St. Louis. A multi-talented musician, she has performed flute and piccolo for over forty 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, and Die Dorfmusikanten German Band. She also performs soprano recorder with A Company of Waites Renaissance Wind Band, and percussion with the Appomattox Brass Band.
She has been the Conductor of the Richard Bland College Community Wind Ensemble since 1979, and is the Conductor of the Orchestra for the Concert Ballet of Virginia. Iris created the Instrumental Music Program in the Petersburg Catholic Schools and has taught there for over 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
Membership Information and Personnel Questions can be answered at irisrick@aol.com
NEXT CONCERT DATE
We would also like to thank Myrne McGonigle for her steady support of our group and her future assistance in making this group the excellent organization that it is. THANK YOU MYRNE!
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 coordinating the use of a brand new rehearsal hall and concert stage for our band and for coordinating our annual Concerts at her school.
PERSONNEL LIST:
Piccolo: Nancy Rubin
Flutes: Michelle Matts, Kathy Whittle, Tom Smith, Robin Tillar
Oboes: Aronne Brooks, Lisa Bilski
Bb Clarinets: Richard Schwartz, Marc Krauss, Harvey Schenkein, Katrina Goodwin, Geri Ports, Maura Matthews, Dawn Carter, Mary Ann Waters, Michael Holmes, Elizabeth Gunn, Jamie Cline, Jennifer Lasley
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, Gina Oughton
Horns: Amanda Burton, Beth Miksovic, Emory Waters, Amy Roberts
Trombones: Pete Pettit, John Carroll, Alex Theofanos, Bob Ellithorpe
Euphonium: Mark La Fratta
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 website dedicated to wind bands and their literature
Bands at the St. Louis World's Fair of 1904: Information, Photographs, and Database
This 457 page book deals with the history of the bands at the St. Louis World's Fair. It 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 the bands and conductors. The highlight of the work is a 315 page (12,000 entry) database of all compositions played by the bands at the event.
