Adult Musicians at Allegheny College to Hold Week II Concert on July 1

June 27, 2016 – The Band Camp for Adult Musicians will hold its Week II Gala Concert at 7 p.m. Friday, July 1, in Shafer Auditorium. Reservations are not required.

Returning as the conductor of the Week II Concert Band is Col. Timothy Foley, USMC, who retired in July 2004 as the director of “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band. Foley was born in Berwick, Pa. He joined the U.S. Marine Band as a clarinetist in 1968. He was appointed the 26th director of “The President’s Own” in 1996. During his tenure as director of the Marine Band, Foley served as music advisor to the White House and regularly conducted the band at the Executive Mansion. During his time as director, the Band celebrated its 200th birthday and was the only musical organization to be inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame.

The featured work for the concert will be a duet featuring two euphoniums. The players will be the principal euphonium for the camp and one of the campers. Luke Spiros was principal euphonium of “The President’s Own” for 25 years. He has been the popular principal euphonium at band camp since 2003. The camper joining him, Leigh Hurtz, began studying with Spiros six years ago. She is a music teacher in State College, Pa., and plays solos with many bands. They will play “Softly as I Leave You.”

Other music to be played will include overtures, transcriptions from the orchestral literature, original works for band, lighter works, and many marches.

Two one-week sessions of Band Camp for Adult Musician are offered each summer. “The 66 campers for Week II have traveled from areas ranging from Prince Edward Island, Alaska and Hawaii. From closer to home, there are a dozen members of the Concert Band of Northwest Pennsylvania in the band,” said John Fleming, camp co-director. “All the campers have come to Meadville because they are attracted by the quality of the band music to be played, the fine instruction received from a remarkable staff, and the privilege of playing for an outstanding conductor.”

For more information, please call the Office of Conference and Events at (814) 332-3101.

Photo: Col. Timothy Foley