Local historian Steve Greif partners with Jill Hayner-Thompson to provide photos and memorabilia from the history of bands and orchestras that played in the region. Musicians Wilbur Jensen and Aaron Johnson share stories, photos and play a few tunes for the audience.

The Coos Bay area had multiple bands over the years, some only brass and others with woodwinds. Learn about this history, the changes and the players that influenced live music performances. Hear highlights of some of the impressive local talents that interacted with internationally recognized groups that came through the region. For example, between 1949 and 1955, Louis Armstrong and the Allstars, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Lionel Hampton, Claude Thornhill, Charlie Barnet, Skinny Ennis and many others visited the Coquille community center. Wilbur (as well as his sister Judy) were able to attend these concerts, and sit in with the bands. Louis Armstrong was even quoted in Downbeat magazine (the most famous jazz magazine in history) months after the 1951 Coquille concert, praising “a little white trumpeter way out in the Oregon back country.”

Program support by: Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation

The Bahuru and Baduku Bands are Zimbabwean marimba bands, comprised of middle and high school students directed by Walt Hampton. They are part of the Tri-Cities Steel Band Association, of Richland, Washington, that promotes world music through education and music performance. Meet the members of the bands, their director and chaperones and explore the instruments and the musical arrangements.

Event Sponsor Mark & Melanie Henderson

George Gershwin, describing his aims in composing Rhapsody in Blue, wrote that he sought to evoke “a musical kaleidoscope of America – of our vast melting-pot.” Inspired by Gershwin’s ideal, our 2024 “Pops” program, Music by American Composers, will be an overview of the many and varied types of music that has originated on our soil: popular, classical, musical theater, spirituals, film and television scores, and jazz. In the latter genre, clarinet and saxophone virtuoso Aaron Johnson makes his orchestral debut at the Festival, in three new arrangements specially crafted by Adam Stern for this unique and exciting program.

Program:

MORTON GOULD American Salute
MORTON GOULD Windjammer: Prelude
ELMER BERNSTEIN The Magnificent Seven: Suite
MARGARET BONDS Troubled Waters
DUKE ELLINGTON Solitude
LEONARD BERNSTEIN Overture to West Side Story
LEROY ANDERSON Sleigh Ride
SCOTT JOPLIN Maple Leaf Rag
DUKE ELLINGTON The Single Petal of a Rose
WALTER DONALDSON Did I Remember
NACIO HERB BROWN All I Do is Dream of You (from Singin’ in the Rain) MORTON GOULD Elegy
AARON COPLAND An Outdoor Overture

Saturday July 20 @ noon
Shore Acres State Park, Charleston

Event Sponsor
 Friends of Shore Acres

Bahuru, is a 15-member Zimbabwean marimba band, composed of middle and high school students. Bahuru has established a reputation for their wonderful, energetic performances in Washington’s Mid-Columbia region. The name Bahuru is from the Zimbabwean translation for big marimba, marimba huru, contracted to simply Bahuru.

The Baduku Marimba Band, is the newest member of the TCSBA family. Its members are middle school-age kids. They went on their first tour in the summer of 2012. The name Baduku came about because the older band, Bahuru, is a mashup of Marimba and Huru (big). Duku means small in the Shona language of Zimbabwe and since the band is smaller and younger, it became Baduku for “small marimba”.

Martin Majkut, Conductor
Saturday July 27 @ 7:30pm
Marshfield High School Auditorium, Coos Bay

BEDŘICH SMETANA (1824-1884)
Vltava (The Moldau)

BENJAMIN BRITTEN (1913-1976)
Four Sea Interludes (from the opera Peter Grimes), Opus 33a

Dawn
Sunday Morning
Moonlight
Storm

I N T E R M I S S I O N

ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK (1841-1904)
Symphony No. 9 in e, Op. 95, “From the New World”

Adagio – Allegro molto
Largo
Molto vivace
Allegro con fuoco

James Paul, Conductor | Steven Moeckel, Violin
Tuesday July 23 @ 7:30pm
Marshfield High School Auditorium, Coos Bay

Event Sponsor Steve Hooper in Memory of Jan Hooper

ARTHUR SULLIVAN (1842-1900)
Overture, The Yeoman of the Guard

RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)
The Lark Ascending
Steven Moeckel, soloist

I N T E R M I S S I O N

SERGEI RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943)
Symphony No. 2 in e, Op. 27
Largo — Allegro moderato
Allegro molto
Adagio
Allegro vivace

Steven Moeckel’s concerto repertoire encompasses everything from the standard classical and romantic masterpieces to the visceral virtuosity of the Shostakovich Concerto and Corigliano’s Red Violin. Invited to China under the auspices of the newly formed Ling Tung Foundation, he was the first Western violinist to perform the beloved violin concerto, The Butterfly Lovers, with a Chinese orchestra. His special affinity for the British repertoire has most recently led to performances of the Elgar, Britten, and Walton Concertos. He performs on a violin crafted c. 1840 by the celebrated French maker, Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume.

Thursday July 25 @ noon, Coos Bay Waterfront. FREE

The 9 Member brass band No Brass No Ammo of the 234th Army Band, led by SSG Karri Davis provides high energy performance on the waterfront to celebrate the Sesquicentennial of Coos Bay/Marshfield.

Did you know the concert band has been part of our festival sine the festival began in 1978! The current band had its beginnings at the time of the nation’s bicentennial in 1976. Today the BACA is a recognized non-profit organization. The groups 40 plus distinguished musicians from in and around the bay area welcome student musicians of proven ability to join them.

Wednesday, July 17 @ 7pm Hales Center for the Performing Arts, SWOCC 

Musicians from our community provide an eclectic selection of musical genres and instruments. Featured are performances by Dace Sultanov, Cello; Second Wind, a quartet of male voices; and the Swingin’ in the Rain big band. Tickets $15, and students are free.

Concert starts at 2PM at the OIMB Boat House in Charleston. This is a SOLD OUT Concert! We look forward to seeing you there!
We would like to thank our Sponsor for this event: Christine Moffitt. Thank You!

Special thank you to Black Market Gourmet for Catering the reception and our Special Host Servers Carol Ventgen and Mike Perkins.