News of MCB

MCB News and Press Releases

PRESS CONTACT: Laura Bernheim
781-648-0508; press@MCB
P.O. Box 128, Wakefield, MA 01880

MAY, 2010: The Wakefield Choral Society (WCS) with the Middlesex Concert Band (MCB) invites the community to their annual Spring Pops Concert on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. at the Americal Civic Center in Wakefield.

WCS Music Director, Michael Green, has compiled a program which showcases the Choral Society's range of musical style. It opens with Rogers and Hammerstein's It's a Grand Night for Singing which is followed by the Franz Liszt Ave Maria. Next are Aaron Copland's Ching-a-ring-Chaw, Mozart's motet Ave Verum, Neighbors' Chorus from Offenbach's opera La Jolie Perfumeuse, John Rutter's For the Beauty of the Earth, and William Henry Smith's arrangement of the spiritual Ride the Chariot. The set closes with a medley of Broadway tunes including Everything's Coming up Roses, Getting to Know You, There is Nothing Like a Dame, Oh What a Beautiful Morning, America and Somewhere. The Choral Society will be accompanied by pianist Joe Beninati of Reading.

The Middlesex Concert Band, under the baton of Mark E. Olson will then take the stage to perform music of American composers. Included in the set are Overture for Winds by Charles Carter, Clifton Williams' Pastorale and Howard Hanson's Choral and Alleluia. The set will conclude with two very familiar works: Frank Ticheli's arrangement of Shenandoah and selections from Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story.

For the finale, the Choral Society will join the Band to perform America the Beautiful, and The Americana Songbook.

Concertgoers may purchase reserved tables ahead of time by calling chorus manager Tom Merchant at 781-246-6444, or may purchase unreserved tickets at the door. Reserved tables for eight are $120. Reserved tables for ten are $150. Unreserved tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Refreshments will be sold before the concert, and during the intermission. The Americal Civic Center is located at 467 Main Street, Wakefield, MA (Next to the Galvin Middle School). The center is handicapped accessible.

The Wakefield Choral Society is comprised of amateur voices from Wakefield and nearby towns. The chorus and the Middlesex Concert Band present a winter pops and a spring pops concert annually. The chorus also participates in Wakefield's Veterans' Day ceremonies. Membership is open to anyone who enjoys singing and can carry a tune; the group happily combines all levels of singing ability. Rehearsals are held weekly September to May on Monday evenings at 7:30 pm in the Music Room of Wakefield High School. The first three rehearsals of each season are considered "open rehearsals". They offer an opportunity for newcomers to decide if they want to join before paying the membership fee for the season. For more information see www.wakefieldchoralsociety.org.

With over 60 performers, the Middlesex Concert Band of Wakefield, Massachusetts has a rich symphonic sound. The repertoire includes traditional and contemporary wind ensemble music, marches, big band sounds, folk tunes and music from Broadway and Hollywood. From September to May, the Middlesex Concert Band presents a series of pops and holiday concerts. During the summer months, the band can be heard playing traditional outdoor concerts in town parks and commons throughout the region. Visit www.mcbconcertband.org for more information.

Middlesex Concert Band Presents "Shall We Dance" at the Americal Civic Center in Wakefield on March 20 and 21.

Wakefield, MA January 22, 2010 -- Join the Middlesex Concert Band for "Shall We Dance" a special concert celebrating the music that moves us. The show will feature music performed by the Wakefield based community concert band and highlight a variety of dances such as Latin, Swing, Polka, and Rock. Local dance professionals will get the crowd "in the mood" by demonstrating several of the dances, and Middlesex Concert Band's resident crooner, Rene Pfister, will dazzle everyone with his vocal rendition of "Mack the Knife". Dance numbers will be demonstrated by Fitz Gerald St. Hilaire and Kelley Walsh of Kadanse Latin and Ballroom Dance Instruction of Burlington. Audience members will have a chance to join Fitz and Kelly as well as participate in a mini dance contest. Less brave audience members will still have the opportunity to purchase refreshments and buy raffle tickets for chances to win beautiful gift baskets.

The Middlesex Concert Band of Wakefield, Massachusetts plays traditional and contemporary wind ensemble music, marches, big band sounds, folk tunes and music from Broadway and Hollywood. From September to May, the Middlesex Concert Band presents a series of pops and holiday concerts with the Wakefield Choral Society. During the summer months, the band can be heard playing traditional outdoor concerts in town parks and commons throughout the region. Middlesex Concert Band is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization made up of more than 60 volunteer musicians. For more information about the band, visit www.MCBconcertband.org. This year, the Middlesex Concert Band is proud to celebrate its 35th year. The band is led by conductor, Mark E. Olson. An active trumpeter, Mr. Olson is also the assistant Director of Bands at Harvard University where he conducts the Harvard Wind Ensemble, The Sunday Jazz Band and serves as advisor to the Harvard University Band.

Concert is on March 20, 2010 at 8:00 pm (doors open at 7:00 pm) and March 21, 2010 3:00 pm (doors open at 2:00 pm) at the Americal Civic Center, 467 Main Street, Wakefield, MA. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and children. Tickets can be ordered through tickets@mcbconcertband.org, 781-279-0108, or at the door.

PRESS CONTACT: Laura Bernheim, 781-648-0508; press@
P.O. Box 128, Wakefield, MA 01880 http://www.mcbconcertband.org/shallwedance.htm

See our live cable interview!

Our own Judy Manning talks with New England Journal on Melrose CATV
(an Adam Dusenberry/KDS Production)

Sept 20, 2009: MIDDLESEX CONCERT BAND PRESENTS "CHORDS FOR KIDS: THE YOUNG EXPLORERS

The Middlesex Concert Band will present its fifth annual "Chords for Kids" concert on Sunday, October 4th, 2009 at the Americal Civic Center in Wakefield from 2:00P-3:30P. This year's performance, entitled "The Young Explorers," will take the audience on a musical journey to explore various musical melodies and rhythms.

During the afternoon's musical escapade, the Middlesex Concert Band's Music Director, Mark E. Olson, will bring our Young Explorers on a journey through the repeating melodies of Aaron Copland's "Variations on a Shaker Melody." The melody, better known as "Simple Gifts," will be heard throughout the piece, played in different styles and tempos. Three well-known nautical songs, played in a more festive than military style, will be heard in "Sea Songs," by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Appropriate to the season, the band will perform "October," by Eric Whiteacre, which will create serene images of Autumn through music and instrumentation. In the suite, "Scenes from the Louvre," by Norman Dello Joio, the audience will musically be taken through the "Portals" of that Paris museum to envision the regal "Kings of France" and romp in the "Children's Gallery." We will then hear how changing rhythms throughout a piece can change the feel of the music in "Cajun Folk Songs," by Frank Tichelli. Three different melodies will be played in "Mannin Veen," by Hayden Wood. With the help of Mr. Olson, the audience will explore each of these melodies and become familiar with the sounds of the instruments featured in the tunes. The enjoyable "The Whistler and His Dog," written by Arthur Pryor, will tell the story of a man looking for his dog. The piccolo will play the melody of the whistle, and children can listen to hear if the dog returns home. And, during the show, one child will be chosen to conduct the band as it plays John Philip Sousa's legendary march, "Stars and Stripes Forever." Following the musical performance, the Young Explorer's will have the chance to meet the musicians and try out the various instruments of the band in an instrumental "Petting Zoo."

Wakefield's own Middlesex Concert Band, with over 60 volunteer performers, plays traditional and contemporary wind ensemble music, marches, big band sounds, folk tunes and music from Broadway and Hollywood. From September to May, the Middlesex Concert Band presents a series of pops and holiday concerts. The band joins the Wakefield Choral Society twice a year for concerts at The Americal Civic Center. During the summer months, the band can be heard playing traditional outdoor concerts in town parks and commons throughout the region. The band's mission is to promote greater knowledge and appreciation for wind music while bringing enjoyment to its listening audience

The band will be directed by Mr. Mark E. Olson. In addition to his position as Music Director of the Middlesex Concert Band, Mr. Olson is the assistant Director of Bands at Harvard University where he conducts the Harvard Wind Ensemble, The Sunday Jazz Band and serves as advisor to the Harvard University Band. Mr. Olson is also an active trumpet performer and a member of the Metropolitan Wind Symphony. The Middlesex concert band was very happy to welcome Mr. Olson as its new music director earlier this year.
Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for children. A $20 family ticket will admit two adults with any number of children. Tickets may be purchased at the door or by calling Chris at 781-279-0108.
The Americal Civic Center is located on 467 Main Street in Wakefield Square, next to the Galvin Middle School. Wakefield is accessible by MBTA rail service from North Station. The Americal Civic Center is handicapped accessible.

This project is supported, in part, by funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, as administered locally by the Wakefield Cultural Council.

Come join us for a fun afternoon.

Press Contact: Carol Lucyniak, 781-942-0989, info/@/mcbconcertband.org
Middlesex Concert Band, P.O. Box 128, Wakefield, MA 01880

May 9, 2009: Spring Pops Concert with the Wakefield Choral Society
PDF of Press Release

Sep

tember 15, 2008: CHORDS FOR KIDS: "Carnival of the Animals"
The Middlesex Concert Band's fourth annual children's concert, "Chords for Kids: "Carnival of the Animals," will be presented on Sunday October 5th, 2008 from 2:00 - 3:30 PM at the Americal Civic Center in Wakefield. The "animal themed" concert will provide fun and great music for children and adults. Classical and popular music selections will feature the sounds and spirits of horses, lions and even dinosaurs.

During the show, children will have a chance to win an opportunity to conduct the band and march around the auditorium to Sousa's legendary "The Stars and Stripes Forever." After the concert, children may meet the players and try out the various instruments in an instrument "petting zoo".

The musical menagerie program will offer recognizable compositions, and will introduce the audience to some new pieces. Led by Sam, the Snare Drum, "Meet the Band," takes children of all ages on a musical journey, through the instruments of the concert band. Camille Saint-Saens' enchanting masterpiece, "Carnival of the Animals," will make the audience feel that graceful swans, lions of brass and tuba elephants are in the room. Concert goers will experience the danger and excitement of the dinosaur kingdom as John Williams' majestic and memorable score of "Jurassic Park" is performed. Children will surely recognize the lovely music from the Disney film, "The Lion King." And… everyone will hear the hoof beats of prancing horses featured in "Galop" by Dmitri Shostakovich and "Light Calvary Overture" by Franz Von Suppe.

The Middlesex Concert Band is a non-profit community music group based in Wakefield, serving the Greater Boston area for more than 50 years. Conducted by Mr. James O'Dell of Melrose, the band is made up of men and women of all ages who volunteer their time and talent to perform concerts year-round. From September to May, the band presents a series of pops and holiday concerts. During the summer months, the band can be heard playing traditional outdoor concerts in town parks and commons throughout the region.
Join us! Ticket prices are $10 adults and $5 children. A $20 family ticket will admit two adults with any number of children. Tickets may be purchased at the door or by calling Chris at 781-279-0108.

The Americal Civic Center is located on 467 Main Street in Wakefield Square, next to the Galvin Middle School. Wakefield is accessible by MBTA rail service from North Station. The center is handicapped accessible.

This project is supported, in part, by funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, as administered locally by the Wakefield Cultural Council.

Come join us for a very fun afternoon.

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MIDDLESEX CONCERT BAND PRESENTS "THE GOLDEN AGE OF RADIO"

Join the Middlesex Concert Band at the Americal Civic Center in Wakefield, MA on Saturday, March 24, 8:00PM, for "The Golden Age of Radio." The concert, a joyous recreation of a 1940's radio variety show, will feature music from the Middlesex Concert Band, skits and singing by Boston Conservatory's Musical Theater students, and an announcer reenacting news items from the decade.

In a time before the Internet and when television wasn't available, the king of home entertainment was the radio! Radio was our window to the world. Every evening, families would pull up their chairs and be transported to worlds of wonder, music and laughter, good news and bad. They would hear the creaking-door sound effect on Inner Sanctum Mysteries, the comedy of Burns & Allen, the "Hi-yo, Silver!" call of the Lone Ranger or the cackle of The Shadow: "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows."

In this unique scripted show, we take you back with us to that time when big band music ruled the airwaves, when the pop stars of the day were names like Frank Sinatra and Glenn Miller, and when families gathered around the radio to listen to their favorite shows. Listen to music and singing of hits like "In The Miller Mood", "Recorded by Sinatra", "The Homefront: Musical Memories from World War II", "Twelfth Street Rag", "Blue Moon", and "As Time Goes By. " And, of course, we will finish up with the Lone Ranger and the "William Tell Overture." Enjoy two classic short radio scripts, reenacted by four Musical Theater students: the Campbell Soup Short Short Story, "Good Salesman" and a "Five Minute Mystery" - sound effects and all.

The Middlesex Concert Band of Wakefield, Massachusetts, with over 60 performers, is directed by Mr. James O'Dell of Melrose. The repertoire includes traditional and contemporary wind ensemble music, marches, big band sounds, folk tunes and music from Broadway and Hollywood. From September to May, the Middlesex Concert Band presents a series of pops and holiday concerts. During the summer months, the band can be heard playing traditional outdoor concerts in town parks and commons throughout the region.

For more than 50 years, the Middlesex Concert Band has been contributing to the rich cultural life of the Greater Boston area. Originally conceived as the Redmen's Band, it began as an offshoot of the fraternal organization for descendants of the Boston Tea Party "Indians." Based in its early years in Wakefield and Melrose, it may be recalled as the Redmen's Marching Band, renowned for its colorful and authentic Plains Indian costumes that included full headdress.

In 1974, the Redmen's Band evolved into a wind ensemble and became known as the Middlesex Concert Band. Since then, it has become one of the area's outstanding community musical organizations, made up of more than 60 talented men and women of all ages who volunteer their time and effort to rehearse and perform concerts year-round throughout the Greater Boston area.

Conductor and Music Director, James O'Dell, has been professionally active in instrumental music and music education for the past twenty-four years. Mr. O'Dell is the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs at The Boston Conservatory and teaches Conducting, Brass, Tuba and Euphonium. A distinguished and versatile educator, conductor, and musician, his collegiate conducting tenures have included marching, pep, concert, and jazz bands, wind ensemble and brass ensemble. He is founder of the New England Collegiate Jazz Festival, Boston TubaChristmas, and cofounder of the Boston Tuba Quartet and The Brass Consortium. He is also the Acting Artistic Director & Principal Guest Conductor of the Metropolitan Wind Symphony.

As a tubist he has toured, recorded, and performed with the Ken Shaphorst Big Band, Jazz Composers Alliance Orchestra, the Boston Globe Repertory Jazz Orchestra (Gunther Schuller, conductor), and as soloist with the Harvard Summer Band. He has been a member of the faculty brass quintets at the University of Oregon and Mansfield University (PA), and principal tuba with the Eugene Symphony Orchestra.

For this performance of "The Golden Age of Radio", the Middlesex Concert Band welcomes musical theater students from The Boston Conservatory. The Boston Conservatory trains exceptional young performing artists for careers that enrich and transform the human experience. Known for its multi-disciplinary environment, the Conservatory offers fully accredited graduate and undergraduate programs in Music, Dance, Theater, and Music Education, and presents over 200 performances each year by students, faculty, and guest artists. The intimacy of the class settings provides a student-centered atmosphere that is uniquely intensive and supportive.

Since its founding in 1867, The Boston Conservatory has shared its talent and creativity with the city of Boston, the region, and the nation, and continues to grow today as a vibrant community of artists and educators.

The Theater Division's curriculum includes all of the components of theater performance training--acting, speech, dance, theater movement, voice, musicianship, directing, stagecraft, and theater academics--but the focus on musical theater training is what sets the school apart. Students take a unique and comprehensive set of courses that include small and large ensemble training, solo interpretation, cabaret, and intensive script and score analysis from the major genres of musical theater.

Join us March 24!

Doors will open at 7:00PM for the themed raffle and refreshments. Tickets are $18 for reserved table seating, $15 for seniors/children or $12 unreserved seating. For reservations call Chris at 781-279-0108, or visit our web site at www.MCBconcertband.org/Radio. Tickets may be purchased at the door based on availability.

Americal Civic Center (Next to the Galvin Middle School)
467 Main Street, Wakefield, MA
The center is handicapped accessible

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NOTE: The children's concert was rescheduled for Sunday, September 24, 2006

JANUARY 10, 2006 (WAKEFIELD, MA) Middlesex Concert Band Celebrates Music for Children
Give your children the lifetime gift of music. Wakefield's own Middlesex Concert Band will present great music for children at their second annual "Chords for Kids" concert on Sunday February 12th from 2:00P-3:30P at the Americal Civic Center in Wakefield. Everyone will enjoy hearing everything from traditional folk tunes to classic Hollywood movie music. We will explore jazz, waltz, calypso, rags, fanfares, marches and ballads. Children will have an opportunity to win a chance to conduct the band in Souza's "Stars and Stripes Forever", march around the auditorium, meet the players and try out the various instruments in an instrument "petting zoo".

In a salute to New Orleans, our Music Director, Jim O'Dell, will join the band as tuba soloist in the jazz classic "Tuba Tiger Rag." Mr. O'Dell, the Assistant Dean of The Boston Conservatory, has played and recorded on the tuba in jazz bands, brass ensembles, concert bands and symphony orchestras. Tiger Rag was written in 1910 by Nick LaRocca and recorded by his band, Original Dixieland Jazz Band, in New Orleans.

Judy Manning - Leonard, our Assistant Conductor, an accomplished flute soloist and the Music Director at Pentucket Regional Middle School will perform "Rhapsody for Flute" by Stephen Bulla, a graduate of Boston's Berklee College of Music and an arranger for "The President's Own" U.S. Marine Band and White House Orchestra.

Folk tunes are represented by the British band classic "Green Bushes" by Percy Grainger, "Variations on a Shaker Melody" by the great American composer Aaron Copland and "The Eighth Candle", based on the story of Hanukkah.

We will play "The Wizard of Oz" to show a typical movie musical. Other selections from movies will explore other musical ideas. Disney's "Under the Sea" demonstrates the calypso, "Chicago" shows jazz, Disney's "Chim Chim Cher-ee" is a waltz and "Also Sprach Zarathustra" from 2001 is a classic fanfare.

No concert is complete with a rousing march -- and we have two -- "The March of the Belgian Paratroopers" and "Stars and Stripes Forever."

The Middlesex Concert Band has been contributing to the rich cultural life of the Greater Boston area for more than 50 years. Originally conceived as the Redmen's Marching Band, it began as an offshoot of the fraternal organization for descendants of the Boston Tea Party "Indians." In 1974, the Redmen's Band evolved into the Middlesex Concert Band, one of the area's outstanding community musical organizations.

Join us! Ticket prices are $10 adults and $5 children. A $20 family ticket will admit two adults with any number of children. Tickets may be purchased at the door or by calling Chris at 781-279-0108. Tickets are also available at http://www.mcbconcertband.org/chords.htm

The Americal Center is located on Main Street in Wakefield Square, next to the Galvin Middle School. Wakefield is accessible by MBTA rail service from North Station. The center is handicapped accessible.

This project is supported, in part, by funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, as administered locally by the Wakefield Cultural Council.

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OCTOBER 15, 2005 (WILMINGTON, MA): The Middlesex Concert Band and The Colonial Chorus Players will combine for a musical revue saluting great music from great movies on Saturday, October 22 at 8:00pm. The concert will feature music from movie blockbusters "2001: A Space Odyssey," "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Chicago," "An American in Paris," "Music Man," and many others.

The Colonial Chorus Players is a non-profit community theater group that has been presenting musical theater in Reading, Massachusetts since 1962. The organization strives to create as much of its productions as possible from the minds, hands and talents of its members and volunteers from the community.

"Hooray for Hollywood" will be performed on Saturday, October 22 at 8:00pm in the Winchester Town Hall. Doors will open at 7:00pm for a penny raffle and refreshments. Tickets are $18 reserved table seating, $15 seniors, $12 unreserved balcony seating.

For reservations call Chris at 781-279-0108 or visit our website at www.MCBconcertband.org or www.colonialchorus.com. Tickets may be purchased at the door based on availability. The Town Hall is handicapped accessible.

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Chords for Kids - Middlesex Concert Band Celebrates Music for Children
Sunday, February 13th 2:00pm Wakefield, MA

Jan. 25, 2005 Wakefield, MA - The Middlesex Concert Band will be performing a special concert for children on Sunday, February 13th 2005 at 2:00pm at the Americal Civic Center in Wakefield, MA. According to music director, James O'Dell, "We wanted to do a concert with a purely educational focus for the Wakefield community, introducing children to a wide variety of music and musical instruments. Children who are at the age of starting to learn a musical instrument will hear and see some very exciting things, and have an opportunity to get up close to the instruments, and interact with the adult musicians." The 90-minute program will include many interactive activities including an instrument "petting zoo" and an opportunity to conduct the band in Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever.

The concert will feature guest artists Ms. Haley Horgan from Wakefield High School and Ms. Yuko Yoshikawa from Boston Conservatory. Each will perform with one of MCB's small group ensembles on her principle instrument: Ms. Horgan on bassoon, Ms. Yoshikawa on marimba.

Ms. Haley Horgan is a senior at Wakefield High School and is planning to pursue a major in bassoon performance after graduation. Haley will be performing Gabriel Pierne's Marche des Petits Soldats de Plomb (March of the Little Tin Soldiers) and The Sorcerer's Apprentice with the woodwind quintet.

Ms. Yuko Yoshikawa has recently completed a Master of Music in Marimba Performance at The Boston Conservatory. She will perform Flight of the Bumble Bee with the MCB, and an unaccompanied work titled LAND by Japanese composer Takatsugu Muramatsu. She will be performing on one of the area's only five-and-a-half-octave marimba.

The day's program includes large-group ensemble performances of classic wind band tunes such as Shostakovich's Folk Dances, Moussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, plus kids' favorites, including The Teddy Bears Picnic, The Incredible Adventures of Wallace and Gromit, and Looney Tunes Charges and Cheers. The band will then break into small groups to feature instrumental sections in brass, woodwinds, saxophone and percussion ensembles. The children will have an opportunity to march around the auditorium, win a chance to conduct the full ensemble, meet the players and try out the various instruments used in the concert.

Join us in this celebration of music for children on Sunday, February 13, 2005 2:00pm-3:30pm at the Americal Civic Center, Main Street, Wakefield, MA. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children or purchase a Family Pack for just $20. Call Chris at 781-279-0108, visit our website at http://www.MCBconcertband.org for more information.

James O'Dell is currently the Music Director and Conductor of both the Middlesex Concert Band and the Southeastern Massachusetts Community Concert Band, and is the Associate Conductor of the Metropolitan Wind Symphony. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Southern Oregon University (1978), a Master of Music in Tuba, Euphonium, and Bass Trombone Performance from the University of Oregon (1983), and doctoral studies at Arizona State University (1983-84). O'Dell is currently the newly appointed Assistant Dean of The Boston Conservatory, a post he assumed after a nine-year tenure as Director of the Conservatory's Music Division.

Middlesex Concert Band is a non-profit adult community band serving the greater Boston area for almost 60 years. The repertoire includes traditional and contemporary wind ensemble music, marches, big band sounds, folk tunes and music from Broadway and Hollywood. Rehearsals are Thursday nights 7:30pm at the Americal Civic Center, Main Street, Wakefield, MA. All are welcome to join; no audition is required. Visit our website for more information http://www.MCBconcertband.org

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MIDDLESEX CONCERT BAND WELCOMES NEW CONDUCTOR

Wakefield After a lengthy search process, members of the Middlesex Concert Band enthusiastically welcomed James O'Dell to the first rehearsal of the 2004 spring season. A large number of highly qualified applicants expressed interest in the position before a handful was selected to conduct rehearsals during the fall / winter season of 2003.

According to veteran clarinet player, Doree Round, "(O'Dell) has excellent qualifications, much experience, and his reference checks were great."

O'Dell has been professionally active in instrumental music and music education for the past twenty-four years. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Southern Oregon University (1978), a Master of Music in Tuba, Euphonium, and Bass Trombone Performance from the University of Oregon (1983), and doctoral studies at Arizona State University (1983-84). O'Dell is currently the newly appointed Assistant Dean of The Boston Conservatory, a post he assumed after a nine-year tenure as Director of the Conservatory's Music Division.

A distinguished and versatile educator, conductor, and musician, Mr. O'Dell is currently the Music Director and Conductor of both the Middlesex Concert Band and the Southeastern Massachusetts Community Concert Band, and is the Associate Conductor of the Metropolitan Wind Symphony. O'Dell's extensive musical experience has brought him across the country to Oregon and Arizona, to Pennsylvania, and most of the New England states, among others. His collegiate conducting tenures have included marching, pep, concert, and jazz bands, wind ensemble and brass ensemble. He is founder of the New England Collegiate Jazz Festival, Boston TubaChristmas, and cofounder of the Boston Tuba Quartet and The Brass Consortium.

Concertgoers can anticipate a repertoire of varied genres including traditional marches, selections from popular musicals, light Classical pieces and other favorites. Concerts this season and throughout the summer will include a large number of pieces representing the theme of kings, queens, counts and dukes. O'Dell's first public appearance with the Middlesex Concert Band will be May 15, 2004 at the Americal Civic Center in Wakefield, MA.

The busy summer season includes outdoor concerts at venues across the eastern part of the state, and often includes a rotation at Boston's famous Hatch Shell on the Esplanade.

A not-for-profit community organization, the Middlesex Concert Band has been active in the Greater Boston area for over 55 years. Musicians interested in joining the Middlesex Concert Band are encouraged to visit the website: www.MCBconcertband.org for more information. The group rehearses in Wakefield on Thursday evenings.

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