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By James Ensor
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Hidden away in the courtyard of Westwood High School, the community concert band, Westwood Winds, put on a fantastic show Monday evening. The band was comprised entirely of music enthusiasts with ties to Westwood, and had only practiced together seven times over the summer before the show.
Made up of WHS students, college students, recent college graduates, working adults and retirees, the intergenerational band displayed the best of Westwood’s musical talent. The band formed in 2010 and performs a variety of musical styles designed to reflect our shared American culture. In that spirit, the concert on August 8 was in honor of Frank Sinatra’s hundredth birthday, the centennial of the National Park Service, and current and former members of our armed services.
Under the direction of James Giurleo, former K-12 director of Performing Arts at Westwood Public Schools and founder of the Westwood Winds, the band played a variety of songs related to the theme of the concert, “Come Fly With Me”.
“Come Fly With Me” was actually the first song performed, followed by several other flight-related songs such as “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Stairway to Heaven,” “Skyfall,” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” The diverse lineup ensured that there was something to like for everyone in the audience of several dozen.
“I think they’re wonderful,” said one Westwood resident and attendee. “And it was especially great that they got a special guest.”
This concert featured the Westwood Winds first-ever special guest, Ron Della Chiesa. Mr. Della Chiesa is the known primarily as the voice of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops Orchestra on WGBH-FM (89.7), as well as the host of radio shows “Strictly Sinatra” and “MusicalAmerica” on WPLM-FM (99.1).
After being introduced by director James Giurleo, Mr. Della Chiesa reminded everyone that the show was dedicated to our troops, our national parks, and Mr. Frank Sinatra. The band went on to deliver a worthy tribute.
