Scene of the Los Alamos Community Winds performing during ‘An Evening of Arts and Culture’ Oct. 22 at Fuller Lodge. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
By BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post
bjgordon@ladailypost.com
The Los Alamos Community Winds will present its first indoor public concert since the beginning of the pandemic, 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5 at Crossroads Bible Church. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Masks are required per church policy.
“It’s been too long since we have been able to do a live concert,” Winds Artistic and Musical Director Ted Vives said.
The program is a mix of classic concert band pieces, modern pieces, an English Folk Song Suite arranged by Ralph Vaughan-Williams and selections from “West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein.
“We’re calling it a bon voyage concert because we’ll be performing the same music at the 80th anniversary of Pearl Harbor event in Hawaii Dec. 7,” Vives said. “It’s a real honor to represent Los Alamos and New Mexico.”
Twenty-one members of the Winds will travel to Honolulu. The Winds will perform a concert on the pier where the US Missouri is docked, he said. Then the Winds will join the other bands performing at the event for a mass band concert in the park.
The theme for this year’s National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Commemoration is Valor, Sacrifice, and Peace. This year marks the 80th commemoration of the attack on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941 and the subsequent entry of the United States into World War II.
The goal of the commemoration and supplemental events is to ensure that future generations will understand the valor and legacy of those who perished and those who fought throughout the war. The commemoration also highlights the importance of the peace that brought a reconciliation that continues to create a better future for all.
It’s a big year for the Community Winds. The Winds have partnered with Albuquerque Concert Band and the Santa Fe Concert Band to host the 2022 National Convention of the Association of Concert Bands (www.acbands.org) May 3-8 in Santa Fe.
“Community bands from Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, and Texas will be in attendance as well as individual band members and musicians from across the US and Europe,” Vives said. This will be the first time its convention has been held in New Mexico, and only the second time in the Southwestern US. We’re looking forward to showing the world what we have musically, here in New Mexico.”
The world famous Canadian Brass will headline the Convention. The Brass will perform a separate concert and offer master classes for those attending the event.
The Association of Concert Bands is the umbrella organization governing all community bands in the United States, Vives said. The mission of the Association of Concert Bands is to foster excellence in Concert Band music through performance, education, and advocacy.
This will be the first time its convention has been held in New Mexico, and only the second time in the Southwestern US.
There will also be information in the concert program this Friday about how individuals and businesses can help support the convention.
“A good core of our musicians have kept up with their music over the course of the pandemic,” Vives. “But some of our members don’t feel ready to come back yet. We want to encourage them to return to the band when they are ready.”
Vives said the Winds are “a little short handed” right now.
“If any members of the community are interested in joining the band, email info@lacw.org for more information.
