by Oda Lisa, published in The Wimberley View 2/8/18

The Hill Country Community Band (HCCB) will begin their 2018 season with a “pops” concert on Saturday, February 17, at 7:30 p.m at the Wimberley Community Center. One of the selections from the free, hour-long concert is from West Side Story, a medley including portions from “Maria”, “Tonight”, “One Hand, One Heart”, “Cool”, and “Somewhere”. Another concert feature is the Academy Award-winning “Theme from Schindler’s List”,” music by John Williams, and arranged by Calvin Custer. Also included in the line-up of show favorites is “Highlights from The Music Man”, a medley which includes excerpts from “The Wells Fargo Wagon”, “Till There Was You”, and “Seventy-Six Trombones”.

As a performer with the HCCB, Eduardo “Eddie” Esparza explained that there is a misconception that concert band music is limited to the marching band style. He added, “But, it’s a classical genre. Concert band is America’s first classical medium, used to be little, city bands, back in the 1890s, 1900s.” Referring to February’s pop-concert, he said, “We just wanted to try something not so ‘bandy,’ not so serious.”

Playing alto saxophone with the HCCB for a number of years now, Esparza is both principal chair and section leader. Explaining his dual role, he said, “The first chair usually gets the solos, that kind of thing. As section leader, you get more of the responsibility, like handing out the music.” Besides being able to play the range of saxophones, he plays clarinet and flute.

Thinking back, Esparza recalled, “My first introduction to classical music was movie themes and TV show themes. I can remember being four, maybe three years old, sitting in front of the big TV console, and then running into the kitchen to get one of those milk crates that the milk guy used to bring to the house and standing on top of it with a spoon, conducting my little brains out.”

Speaking overall for the band, he said, “We wanted to do something that will make the audience say, ‘Oh, that was so much fun! I want to hear more.’ So, we decided to throw a pops-concert. We’d really love it if we could do it once a year.”

A bonus feature to the Saturday night concert is that the HCCB will raffle off a special prize for a week-long stay from June 9 to June 16, 2018, in a 3 bedroom condominium in the mountains of Angel Fire, New Mexico. The 3-bedroom condo, which sleeps 10, is near mountain biking and hiking trails, a zip-line, and streams and lakes for fishing. The raffle tickets will be available for purchase for $5.00 each before the concert, and the drawing will take place immediately following the concert. However, the winning ticket-holder does not need to be present to win.

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 10/12/17

On Tuesday, October 17, 7:30 p.m., the Hill Country Community Band (HCCB) will present another exhilarating performance, which is free and open to the public. The concert will be held at the First Baptist Church of Wimberley, where the band holds their weekly Tuesday night practices. The concert’s theme is “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” Director James Malik explained, “Sometimes the theme dictates the music and sometimes the music dictates the theme. This concert is a little bit of both.”

“The ‘something old’ is the Beethoven,” he said, referring to that classic composer’s 1808 work, “York’scher Marsch”. The HCCB have chosen to play a version arranged by Philip Sparks. Continuing with explaining the musical theme, Malik said, “…and the ‘something new’ being ‘Firefly’,” which was written by Austin resident, Ryan George. Malik described the song as “challenging,” and then added, “I think it’s good to challenge our musicians. It’s fun to give them something to really sink their teeth into.” Two selections meet the “something borrowed” definition, since both are borrowed from an orchestra’s repertoire and transcribed into band music. Rounding up the familiar phrase, Malik said, “The ‘something blue’ is the ‘Blue and Green Music’, which is absolutely gorgeous!” According to the concert’s program notes, that piece, composed by Samuel R. Hazo, was inspired by the artwork of the same title, done by Georgia O’Keeffe.

With eager anticipation, the band are ready to share the fruits of their hard work and love of music with other music lovers. Referring to next Tuesday night’s audience, Malik said, “We’re looking forward to having them come out, and hope they’ll enjoy the concert. We’ve had a lot of fun putting it together. We’re excited to share some new music with them.”

The First Baptist Church 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, 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 6/29/17

Back by popular demand, two concerts featuring the Hill Country Community Band(HCCB) and the Wimberley Community Chorus(WCC) will be held on Tuesday, July 4 at the First Baptist Church of Wimberley. The first free concert will begin at 1:00 p.m. and will be reprised at 4:00 p.m. Director of HCCB, James Malik said, “It is, without a doubt, one of the things I look forward to the most every year. It’s an exciting concert. It’s a wonderful collaboration between two great organizations honoring our country, honoring the men and women who serve our country.”

Penny Gabrielsen will direct the singers of WCC for both shows. Malik said, “She’s fantastic, a lot of fun to work with. I love the enthusiasm of the Wimberley Community Chorus, and the great performances that they give.”

Malik described the overall mood of the well-attended, annual event as “emotional.” He said, “There’s a vibrancy and electricity when we’re performing it.” Referring to several songs, he said, “I get really excited about ‘The Stars and Stripes Forever’. Everybody knows it, everybody loves it and claps along. There’s a piece that we’ve done a couple of times called ‘As All the Heavens Were a Bell’ which was commissioned in memory of all the firefighters killed in 9/11. It’s poignant and powerful and exciting. Another one that I love is the ‘Festival of Freedom’. Bob Elliot narrates all the way through. Bob has such a great voice and is such a great speaker.”

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, Les Tucker, at [email protected]. Visit the HCCB website at www.hillcountrycommunityband.org for band news and future concert dates.

Correction:  Bob Elliot will not be able to attend and Chick Morgan, a member of the Chorus, will be the narrator.

Music for Texas Community Music Festival:
“Triumphant Fanfare” by Richard Saucedo
“American Patrol” by F.W. Meacham
“In the Center Ring” by Robert Sheldon
“With Each Sunset” by Richard Saucedo
“Pas Redouble” by Camille Saint-Saens, transcribed by Arthur Frackenpohl
“Symphonic Suite from Star Trek” by Michael Giacchino, Alexander Courage & Gene Roddenberry; arr. Jay Bocook
“Star Wars – The Marches” by John Williams

by Oda Lisa, first published in The Wimberley View

The Hill Country Community Band (HCCB) will perform a concert in Austin, at Central Market North on Saturday, April 22, from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. As part of the Texas Community Music Festival, HCCB will be one of thirteen groups to play throughout the day. This all-volunteer group is comprised of professional and amateur musicians from Wimberley and other areas from New Braunfels to Austin. Several of the popular selections to be performed by them are “Star Wars, The Marches”, “Star Trek”, and “Pas Redouble”. Director of the band, James Malik, described the nine scheduled pieces as being well-known audience favorites. He said, “Even if the title ‘Pas Redouble’ doesn’t sound familiar, many will recognize the piece as soon as it starts.”

Referring to “Star Wars, The Marches”, percussionist Dan Stephens said, “I have a fondness for this arrangement because it reminds me of when I was in middle school band many years ago. The movie had just come out and that’s what made it all the more exciting. So, this is a little walk down memory lane.”

The Texas Community Music Festival is free and family-friendly. Central Market North is located at 4001 N. Lamar, Austin. Visit the HCCB website at www.hillcountrycommunityband.org for more details. For more information about joining the Hill Country Community Band Wimberley or donating time or money, contact board President, Les Tucker, at [email protected].