by Oda Lisa, published in The Wimberley View 5/16/19

The Hill Country Community Band presents their concert,  Texas, Our Texas, on Sunday, May 26, 4:00 p.m., at the First Baptist Church in Wimberley. This free performance promises to be a “rootin’, tootin’ good time” with a varied play list of original arrangements of popular songs like the theme from the John Wayne movie, “The Cowboys”, “Silverado” and of course, “Texas, Our Texas”.

HCCB Director, James Malik, said, “It’s a wonderful celebration of our great state and the wild west – the spirit within which captures that cowboy, open-range, independent streak that we have.” Referring to two of the concert’s songs, he said, “’Silverado’ is a great piece, a great movie, and a great score by Bruce Broughton. It’s just a wonderful piece to put together, a nice challenge for the members of the group. And, we’ll perform our wonderful state song, ‘Texas, Our Texas’, so that’s going to be a lot of fun to play and hear. We hope people sing along.” Speaking to the reader on behalf of “your Hill Country Community Band,” Malik said, “Our gift to the community is our music, our concerts. We love the support and we look forward to seeing you on May 26.”

Shortly before the concert begins, attendees will have the opportunity to bid on a variety of unique items during the silent auction time. HCCB Publicity Chairman, Candy Bowman said, “The Silent Auction begins at 3:30, before the concert. Included among the items offered in the auction are many baskets with gift cards for local businesses, and handmade items crafted by our Band members and local artists.”

So, pull on your boots, strap on your spurs and come to listen to some great music and indulge in the Texan in you! The First Baptist Church of Wimberley is located at 15951 Winters Mill Parkway. For more information about joining the Hill Country Community Band or donating time or money, contact Board President, Eddie Esparza at [email protected] or Visit the HCCB website at www.hillcountrycommunityband.org for current band news and future concert dates.

By Oda Lisa, published in The Wimberley View 2/14/19

On Saturday, February 23, the Hill Country Community Band (HCCB) will present their latest pops concert, titled The Rat Pack, at the Wimberley Community Center at 7:00 p.m. Selected music from that jazzy era includes “Come Fly with Me” and “My Funny Valentine,” as well as highlights from Guys and Dolls. Of course, the “rat pack” theme would not be complete without featuring a medley of Frank Sinatra classics including “Strangers in the Night.”

Since that particular Sinatra classic did not have an arrangement suitable for the HCCB, band member John Prickett, who plays French horn, volunteered to write one. Prickett said, “As I remember, that was one of his most popular songs.” Explaining his creative process, he added, “I started with the melody and chord structure, and created the parts for the band. I decided who would have the melody, what instruments would play which parts of the harmony, and composed a few counter-melodies, and other parts to make it interesting for the band to play.” Alternatively, music and dance fans can hear Prickett play electric bass for the Wimberley Valley Big Band.

The Rat Pack concert is a free event, and donations are greatly appreciated. Dancing is welcomed and encouraged. The Wimberley Community Center is located at 14068 RR 12. For more information about joining the Hill Country Community Band or donating time or money, contact Board President, Eddie Esparza at [email protected] or visit the HCCB website at www.hillcountrycommunityband.org for band news and future concert dates.

by Oda Lisa, published in The Wimberley View 10/11/18

On Saturday, October 20, at 2:00 p.m., the Hill Country Community Band will present their “Band Classics” concert at the Wimberley Community Center. The concert is free and open to the public. The play list will include Percy Grainger’s beautiful “Australian Up-Country Tune”, composed in 1905. “Salvation is Created” by Russia composer, Pavel Tschesnokoff, was conceived as a six-voice choral work in 1912. And, “Chorale and Shaker Dance” by John P. Zdechlik features several “call and response” portions between band sections.

A silent auction will begin at 1:30 p.m., half an hour prior to the concert, as part of the non-profit’s fund-raising campaign. Board member, Candy Bowman, said, “There will be many unusual items in the auction, many of which were donated by the band members. One of these items is a 30 to 40 minute flight for two over Austin by a certified pilot, John Prickett, who also plays the French Horn. Another French Horn player, Indigo Currington, is donating  four one-hour Spanish lessons. Tom McCormick, who plays the Euphonium, is donating birdhouses that he made with wine corks, bottle caps, and license plates.  Flute player, Melissa Guth, is offering handmade jewelry for the auction. These are just a few of the interesting items that will be offered in the auction! Bids may be made in the time before the concert and also for 10 minutes afterward.”

The Wimberley Community Center is located at 14068 RR 12. For more information about joining the Hill Country Community Band or donating time or money, contact Board President, Les Tucker, at [email protected]. Visit the HCCB website at www.hillcountrycommunityband.org for band news and future concert dates.

by Oda Lisa, published in The Wimberley View 5/24/18

On Sunday, May 20, the Hill Country Community Band (HCCB) presented A Spring Concert: April Showers, May Flowers at the Wimberley Community Center. Director, James Malik, aptly led the all-volunteer musicians, attesting to his many years of experience as a band conductor. The free, hour-long concert was an entertaining combination of classic pop-music and toe-tapping marches. Besides instrumentals from popular Broadway musicals, arrangements of well-known Beatles and Stevie Wonder songs showed off the band’s versatility and ability.

The HCCB’s strongest performance piece was a medley from Porgy and Bess featuring “I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin'” and “Summertime”. The band sounded their most confident and comfortable on that particular medley. The trumpet and alto saxophone solos were seamless and seductive.

Of course, the HCCB excels in playing marches, and they proved that fact once again with “Nobles of the Mystic Shrine March” by John Philip Sousa,  and “March: Grandioso” by Roland Forrest Seitz. The latter received rousing applause from an attentive and enthusiastic audience, especially from UT alumni. Among the hundred or so audience members, one enthused concert fan tried his best to sing along during the Beatles’ medley. His penchant to participate was understandable. This spring concert was definitely done all in good fun.

Following the success of the February concert, which was held on a Saturday, another weekend concert was scheduled at the Wimberley Community Center after the TCMF performance was canceled.

Program:

“National Emblem March” by E.E. Bagley, ed. Frederick Fennell

“Stevie Wonder” by Stevie Wonder, arr. John Wasson

“West Side Story” by Leonard Bernstein, arr. Jay Bocook

“Nobles of the Mystic Shrine March” by John Philip Sousa, ed. Frederick Fennell

“Porgy & Bess” by George Gershwin, arr. James Barnes

“Highlights from The Music Man” by Meredith Willson, arr. Alfred Reed

“Music of the Beatles” by Lennon & McCartney, arr. Michael Sweeney

“March Grandioso” by Roland Forrest Seitz, arr. Andrew Glover

by Oda Lisa, published in The Wimberley View 5/10/18

The Hill Country Community Band (HCCB) presents a free concert, April Showers Bring May Flowers, on Sunday, May 20, at the Wimberley Community Center, at 4:00 P.M. Before and after the concert, raffle tickets will be available for $10.00 each for a chance to win a crocheted, red, white, and blue blanket. The drawing will be held after the HCCB’s concert on July 4. The winning ticket-holder does not need to be present to win the hand-made prize.

The theme and concert playlist are not remotely related to each other; instead, the theme refers to when recent inclement weather forced the band to cancel their April 21 appearance at the Texas Community Music Festival in Austin. Rather than let all of their hard work go to waste, the band decided to host a May concert for the Wimberley area.

The concert includes a medley of Beatles’ songs, arranged by Michael Sweeney, including “All My Loving”, “Norwegian Wood”, and “Something”. A medley from Porgy and Bess features “I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin'” and “Summertime”. Among other popular songs, the concert will include a selection of Stevie Wonder’s music, “Nobles of the Mystic Shrine March” by John Philip Sousa, and “March: Grandioso” by Roland Forrest Seitz.

Since 2006, Lucinda Kapral has played with the HCCB. She said, “We were looking for a place to play as a family. My husband also plays the saxophone, and our son was playing in the school band. When he was a freshman in high school, we all joined the Hill Country Community Band, so we could all play together.” Kapral primarily plays the baritone saxophone with the HCCB and the Hill Country Jazz Band. Although, the talented musician can play alto and tenor saxophones, clarinet, and flute as well. Given the baritone’s size, she noted, “The challenge is getting enough air to play a long phrase.”

For over 29 years, she has been in military bands including 3 years of active service in the Army at Fort Stewart in Georgia, as part of the Army reserves in New York and California, and then, in the Texas National Guard at Camp Mabry. She explained, “I was a senior in high school, and a recruiting band played, and they were holding auditions so I said, ‘Sure, what the heck.’ It started from there and I ended up in an Army band.” During those years, her musical experiences included concert band, Marching band, jazz band, saxophone quartets, and other ensembles. Speaking of the HCCB, Kapral said, “I look forward to playing in this band as long as I can.”

The Wimberley Community Center is located at 14068 RR 12. For more information about joining the Hill Country Community Band or donating time or money, contact Board President, Les Tucker, at [email protected]. Visit the HCCB website at www.hillcountrycommunityband.org for band news and future concert dates.

Bob loved music and playing his clarinet in a variety of musical styles.  While playing with the Pennsylvania All-State High School Band, he was invited by the Penn State Blue Band director to come to Penn State and play in the band.  This he did while majoring in electrical engineering, later earning a master’s degree and working for IBM for 33 years before retiring to Canyon Lake with his wife Pat.

He played in community bands and orchestras and thoroughly enjoyed playing in chamber music ensembles, pit orchestras for operas and musicals, and “pick-up” bands that traveled in the summers to Europe, Russia, China and the Caribbean.

We were privileged to have both Bob and Pat as members of our band.  Bob passed away on April 19, 2018, at the age of 84.  He will be missed and Pat will continue to cherished by many friends within the Band.