San Antonio Municipal Band changes name: THE SAN ANTONIO SYMPHONIC BAND

SA Symphonic Band

After 23 years, the San Antonio Municipal Band has changed the Band’s name to the San Antonio Symphonic Band.  The Band, under the direction of conductor, Dr. Donald K. Miller, will be performing it’s first concert of the 2009-2010 series on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. at UTSA Downtown Campus, Buena Vista Theater followed by a second performance on Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. at the same location.  A guest appearance by The Black Bexar Pipe Band will be made during the performance.  Program theme: Across The Pond.

For more information, click on this blog and keep updated with info on the San Antonio Symphonic Band!

For membership information, contact Rachelle Arizpe, Personnel Manager, at rachelle_arizpe@yahoo.com.

San Antonio Symphonic Band 2009-2010 Concert Schedule

 

2009-2010 Concert Season

Directed by Donald K. Miller, DMA

 

 

 

 

Across the Pond

November 14, 2009, 7:30 pm

November 15, 2009, 4:00 pm

Buena Vista Theater, UTSA Downtown

501 W. Durango, San Antonio, TX 78207

Featuring the Black Bexar Pipe Band

 

Kris Kringle’s Jingle

December 13, 2009, 3:00 pm

Rolling Oaks Mall

December 15, 2009, 7:30 pm

Alzafar Temple

 

Salute to the Children

February 27, 2010, 7:30 pm

February 28, 2010, 3:00 pm

Location TBA

 

Fiesta del Rio – A River Celebration

April 25, 2010, 3:00 pm

McAllister Auditorium, San Antonio College

1300 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio, TX 78213

 

Strike Up the Band!

A Fourth of July Celebration

July 4, 2010, 3:00 pm

Location TBA

 

 

Stay in tune at:

 

http://samunicipalband.wordpress.com/

 

Conductor Appointed by the San Antonio Municipal Band – The All America City Band

Don Miller

The San Antonio Municipal Band – The All America City Band, is proud to announce that it has selected Donald K. Miller as the Band’s conductor for the 2009-2010 season.  Conductor Donald K. Miller has a wide range of experience in conducting wind bands, orchestras, and chamber ensembles. He is adept at working with musicians of all ages – elementary and secondary students, university students, community musicians and professional performers.  Since 2007 he has been a member of the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) faculty where he conducts the Symphonic Band, Chamber Winds and is coordinator of the Athletic Bands. His teaching experience includes working in public schools of Oklahoma and Kansas, Seward County Community College in Liberal, Kansas and the University of Missouri-Rolla (now Missouri University of Science and Technology).  He was founding conductor of the YMCA Youth Orchestra in Chesterfield, Missouri and was the Music Director for the YMCA summer music program from 2003 to 2007.

In addition to his position at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Dr. Miller has recently been appointed Conductor and Music Director of the Starlight  Symphony of Wimberley, Texas.  He has been conductor of many regional honor bands, UTSA faculty ensembles and currently hosts Wind Visions, a Texas Public Radio broadcast featuring the best music for wind bands and smaller wind ensembles.

As an advocate of new music, Dr. Miller has been responsible for commissioning over 20 works from composers such as Timothy Mahr, Andrew Boysen, Barry Morse, James Syler and many others. He is also an advocate for music education serving as a clinician for schools and giving presentations at many professional conferences, including two College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) conferences, the Texas Music Educators  Association (TMEA) and the Missouri Music Educators Association. He is an adjudicator for Director’s Choice Music Festivals, Festivals of Music, as well as many other state and national events.

Dr. Miller has music degrees from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Wichita State University and received his Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from The University of Iowa.

Star Spangled Spectacular!!! – The San Antonio Municipal Band performs at The Witte – July 4, 2009

San Antonio Municipal Band July 4 Concert Announcement

Join the San Antonio Municipal Band – The All America City Band at their upcoming concert on Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 12:30 p.m., at the Witte Museum, San Antonio, Texas, under the direction of Conductors Don Miller and Alfred Tapia.

Explore time and music while you hear the San Antonio Municipal Band perform music of times gone by and music of American history as we celebrate the Independence of the American Colonies. You’ll hear dance music of colonial America, music of the glory days of outdoor band music performed by John Philip Sousa and his band and some beautiful music that celebrates the spirit of modern America.”

Admission prices to The Witte:

Adults: (ages 12-64) – $8.00
Seniors: (ages 65 and up) – $7.00
Children: (ages 4-11) – $6.00
(ages 3 and younger) – Free

Bring your lawn chairs or blankets!

Fiesta Concert CD – Available for Sale

To purchase a CD from the San Antonio Municipal Band – The All America City Band’s recent official Fiesta concert, contact Cathy Clare finglefloot@yahoo.com. Cost: $15.00 plus $1.00 for mailing.
We appreciate your support.

NEW REHEARSAL SITE – Alzafar Shrine Temple

Beginning Tuesday, May 26, 2009, rehearsals for the San Antonio Municipal Band – The All America City Band, will be held at the Alzafar Shrine Temple located at 901 N. Loop 1604 W, San Antonio, Tx 78232. Rehearsal time is 7:30-9:30 p.m. For more information, contact Shirley Gauthier, Interim Personnel Manager for the San Antonio Municipal Band – The All America City Band, at 210-834-4343.

Mark your calendar now for the Band’s upcoming 4th of July Concert at 12:30 p.m. at the Witte Museum.

Thank you!

SAMB Rehearsal – Tuesday, May 19, 2009 – Trinity Baptist Church

Rehearsal this week will be held at Trinity Baptist Church – Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Room 259-263
2nd floor
Directions: Take 281 South, exit Mulberry/St. Mary’s Street exit.
Come to the stop light; turn right and go up to church on right.
Park in main lot. There is a wrought iron walkway; come through the walkway and it will take you into the reception area of the Church.

Turn left and go through the gymnasium. Make a right and you will run into the elevator. Take elevator to 2nd floor; turn right and all the way down the hallway. Rooms 259-263 are on the far west end of building.
BRING A MUSIC STAND PLEASE.

SAMB Rehearsals resume May 12th

SAMB – The All America City Band rehearsals will resume at Churchill High School on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Anyone interested in joining us for rehearsal should contact our interim personnel manager, Shirley Gauthier, at flute785@aol.com or at 210-340-9822.

STAR SPANGLED SPECTACULAR!!! The SAMB-All America City Band at the Witte Museum – July 4th, 2009

Join the San Antonio Municipal Band – The All America City Band at their upcoming concert on Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 12:30 p.m., at the Witte Museum, San Antonio, Texas, under the direction of Conductors Don Miller and Alfred Tapia.

Explore time and music while you hear the San Antonio Municipal Band perform music of times gone by and music of American history as we celebrate the Independence of the American Colonies. You’ll hear dance music of colonial America, music of the glory days of outdoor band music performed by John Philip Sousa and his band and some beautiful music that celebrates the spirit of modern America.”

Admission prices to The Witte:

Adults: (ages 12-64) – $8.00
Seniors: (ages 65 and up) – $7.00
Children: (ages 4-11) – $6.00
(ages 3 and younger) – Free

Bring your lawn chairs or blankets!

Interim Conductors for April 26th Fiesta Concert

We have three interim conductors who will be taking the podium for our Fiesta Concert, April 26th.

Alfred Tapia

In addition to being interim conductor of the San Antonio Municipal Band, Alfred Tapia is also the conductor of the Comal Community Band. Al, as his friends call him, is a native of San Antonio. He grew up there, but decided, at an early age to seek adventure as an Army musician. He later went on to achieve his goal of becoming an Army Bandmaster. As a Bandmaster, he had the opportunity to serve two tours in Germany, first in Berlin and later in Wurzburg. It was there where he developed his passion for the music of Germany and its proper performance. He has also conducted bands in Vietnam, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, the German Democratic Republic, France, and Morocco. He retired from the Army in 1984 and returned to San Antonio. He has attended Texas A & I University, Saint Mary’s University, Cameron University, the U S Army Bandmaster Course of Instruction and Kneller Hall Royal Military School of Music. Al is an active musician in the San Antonio area, a member of many community bands, teaches privately, is the conductor of the Beethoven Concert Band, and is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association.

Dean Zarmbinski

Dean Zarmbinski is in his 2nd year as a music educator here in San Antonio. In September of 2007, he retired from the United States Air Force with over 23 years of service. His military career was spent performing in and leading Air Force bands throughout the U.S. and overseas. His career began and ended right here in San Antonio with the Air Force Band of the West at Lackland Air Force Base. He enlisted in the Air Force in June of 1984 and was assigned to the Band of the West as a trumpet player. In January of 2001, he returned to San Antonio to take command of the Band of the West. He was Commander and Conductor of that band for over seven years – the longest tenure any commander has served with that organization. He served overseas with bands in Germany and Japan, and was also assigned to bands in Nebraska and California. Dean and his wife Dee, who is also a music educator, live in San Antonio. They are the proud parents of three fine young men.

Robert Shoaf

Robert W Shoaf retired from the U.S. Army in March 2001 after 25 years of active duty service as a Chief Warrant Officer Three. During this period he studied privately with professional pianists and conductors in the communities he served and commanded bands the last 14 years. Since retirement he enjoys performing as a professional jazz pianist in the San Antonio area, on percussion with the SAMB, and provides a popular touch to the Christ Episcopal Church services on digital and acoustic pianos. He is married to the formal Sun Ja Choe, with two children, Robert and Angele (born at Fort Sam Houston) gracing him with three grand daughters, Natalie and Lilliana Shoaf and Jordan Sandoval.