The Hill Country Community Band Blossoms for Upcoming Concert

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.