2008 News/Home Page Archive
Listed in reverse chronological order. Items in other portions of the web site are not archived on this page.
Royal Swedish Navy Band in Trouble
The Royal Swedish Navy Band is in danger of being discontinued because of financial cutbacks in the Swedish Armed Forces. This outstanding ensemble, formed in 1685, is the last professional military band in Sweden. The band would like to ask for help from WASBE members. You can go to their web site where you will find a simple form with which you can add your name to their support list.
Bert Aalders and Tünde Gerlóczy, pictured at the closing ceremony of the WASBE 2007 Conference in Killarney
Tünde Gerlóczy 1976–2008
Pianist Tünde Gerlóczy, wife of WASBE Past President Bert Aalders, died unexpectedly on April 18 at the age of 32. If you wish to say goodbye to Tünde, you can do so on Wednesday, April 23 from 19:30 to 20:30 (7:30 to 8:30 p.m.) local time at the Lubbers & De Wit Funeral Centre, Rijksweg 80, Duiven, the Netherlands. The Cremation Ceremony will take place on Thursday, April 24 at 13:15 (1:15 p.m.) in the Veluwezaal at the Crematorium in Dieren, Imboslaan nr. 6. Afterwards there will be an opportunity to express condolences to the Family in the Meeting room of the Crematorium.
WASBE would like to extend our deepest condolences to Bert and both families on this untimely loss.
Conductor Scholarship Program Applications Available
The WASBE International Conductor Scholarship Program provides support for WASBE members to attend a conducting workshop in a country other than their own. At last count, eight workshops are willing to offer some sort of tuition scholarship — a new record! For more information on this year's program and the exciting opportunities afforded to WASBE members in this regard, visit the International Conductor Scholarship Program page on this site.
The deadline for applications is as follows (revised April 9):
- May 1 for workshops held in May
- May 15 for workshops held in June
- May 29 for workshops held in July and August
Remember that we also maintain a list of conducting seminars and workshops, available to all website visitors.
Newsletter Articles "en español" and "auf Deutsch"
The March 2008 WASBE Newsletter is now available for download for WASBE Members. We welcome Russell McCutcheon (USA), who takes over publishing duties from Anthony Reimer (Canada) as of this issue. While the published version is in English, we now offer selected Newsletter articles in Spanish and German. For example, the review of the Sinfonische Blasorchester Mannheim concert cited on page 9 of the Newsletter is one of the articles available to members only. If you are interested in being a volunteer translator, talk to the Executive Director.
March Newsletter in English (
1.6 MB)
AWSO Auditions
The American Wind Symphony Orchestra, Robert Austin Boudreau, Music Director, announces auditions for its 2008 Tour of New England, New York, and Canada. The tour runs from June 15 to August 15, 2008, and auditions will be held by arrangement throughout the spring. Stipends of up to US$1,200, plus room and board (excluding lunch) are available. There are openings for all winds, percussion, keyboards and harp. For a listing of audition requirements, times and sites, contact:
American Wind Symphony Orchestra
550 Plains Church Road
Mars PA 16046
USA
Phone: (724) 779-8334
Fax: (724) 742-2897
E-mail: awso@execnet.net
Killarney Discs Shipping
Persons who ordered complete sets of the concert discs from the 2007 WASBE Conference in Killarney are starting to receive them now. If you did not order them at the time, you can contact Mark Custom Recording Service to order any or all the discs. Mark Custom also has discs from the 1999, 2003 and 2005 Conferences available.
©2008 WASBE