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From the President
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Greetings friends of DC's Different Drummers,
The Dog Day's of Summer are waning and thoughts of Fall start to creep into our psyche. For many of us it means music is in the air - symphonic band music to be exact.
On August 21st DCDD's Capitol Pride Symphonic Band kicks off Fall with its first rehearsal of the season.
There is so much buzz this year about new members and great music I can't wait to tell you.
We had more interest than ever before at our booth at Capital Pride and the emails and phone calls haven't stopped all Summer.
It seems the word is out. "DCDD is where it's at". The music this Fall of course is dy-no-mite! The Lord of the Rings Symphony will be a musical journey of mythic scale and the Lunacy of Looney Tunes etc. will bring down what's left of the house.
Needless to say, I'm very excited, as you should be as well. So, either join us as a player or set October 27th or 28th aside for the Fall concert.
Now, I've got to start packing for Band Camp!
Musically yours!
Stan
Stan Goff
President,
DC's Different Drummers
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Featured player - Dean Reichard
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Dean has played percussion with DCDD since November 1998.
Highlights of Dean's tenure with DCDD have been marching in Pride parades in New York and DC, the recent trip to perform in Concord NH, and lots of great concerts with DCDD's Capitol Pride Symphonic Band.
DCDD has heightened Dean's appreciation of music, of all varieties. It's fun to hear something we have performed on the radio, in a restaurant, and yes, even occasionally in an elevator!
Dean also credits DCDD with affording him his own theme song! Finally, without DCDD, Dean's name would never have become synonymous with Tupperware and Longaberger, nor would his home be decorated with such fabulousity!
Dean enjoys DCDD's participation in the DC GLBT Arts Consortium, having appeared in six (count 'em SIX) productions of Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas at CHAW, in collaboration with the Consortium, and emceed the Arts Corner stage (also sponsored by the Consortium) at Pride 2006.
In addition to Consortium-related activities, Dean has appeared in St Mark's Players' March 2006 production of Jesus Christ Superstar, and in his cabaret show entitled In My Car, I Rock! whenever and wherever possible!
Photo of Dean taken by Scott Henrichsen.
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Marching Bands at Anacostia Museum
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 The Anacostia Museum, part of the Smithsonian Institution, will be hosting an exhibit Banding Together: Public School Bands as Instruments of Opportunity.
The exhibit runs September 10, 2006 through May 14, 2007. For more details, visit the Anacostia Museum website.
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Looney Tunes and Fairy Tales
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DCDD Artistic Director Scott Barker is conjuring up an exciting Halloween Concert for this Fall.
A concert with music of spirit, spooks, silliness
...and hobbits!
Featuring:
- Lord of the Rings Symphony #1 by Johan de Meij
- Cartoon Express - the music of Bugs Bunny and friends
- Selections from the Broadway hit musical Wicked
- Along with music by Berlioz, Copland and more!
Mark your calendars now! The concert will be October 27 & 28 at the Reformation Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill.
Rehearsals begin on Monday, August 21 at 7:00 p.m.
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Other Band News
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Tupper-fest
This year's Tupperware party - fund raiser will be on Saturday, September 16. More information to come on that.
One time, at Band Camp...
Band Camp is September 29 through October 1. The event is held at Appel Farm near Elmer, New Jersey.
The fresh country air and rural setting gives the band a chance to escape the hectic city life, and focus on music.
Band Camp is a weekend that gives our members an opportunity to build community, develop musicianship, and have fun generating music for the upcoming concert.
Each year only gets better as more members catch on to how fun this weekend. All Symphonic Band members are encouraged to attend this annual tradition.
Silent Auction
DCDD will be holding a Silent Auction during the Fall concert. If you have items, tickets, time-shares, dinners, etc. to donate, please let us know!
A Place for Us
Not the song - but an affordable concert hall. We've been looking around for a real theatre for our performances. Maybe you know of some place - we've checked all the usual suspects. Let us know!
Noted with Sadness
DCDD learned in late July that Walter Leonard passed away. Walter was a DCDD Band Aide and supporter. Walter's partner Kelly Plumber had been a twirler with the DCDD Marching Band who passed away a year ago.
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LGBA News
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DCDD is a founding member of the Lesbian & Gay Band Association
Kevin Gilbert, David E. McBee, Steve Messina, and Rick Stewart of DCDD performed with Team Band at Gay Games VII in Chicago.
LGBA events planned for 2007 include a performance by an LGBA Honors Band in February, hosted by the Cleveland Band. Contact webguybrandyn@yahoo.com for more info.
The 2007 LGBA Conference will be Silver in St. Louis - hosted by BandTogether. The conference will celebrate LGBA's 25th Anniversary. DCDD member Mary Bahr was the founding president of LGBA.
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