By Audrey Anderson
Hometown Weekly Reporter
The WestwoodWinds Community Band had planned an outdoor concert on Thursday, August 7 at St. Margaret Mary Church, but due to the threat of rain, the concert was held inside the beautiful church. It was a lovely setting for a fun concert. This was the group’s first concert after a three-year hiatus, the retirement of former music director Jim Giurleo, and the addition of new music director, Melissa Laurencio.
Surrounded by beautiful jewel-toned stained-glass windows, the band presented a lively, upbeat program titled Music Through the Americas. The program was filled with marches, TV and movie themes, and Latin-rock tunes that made the appreciative audience want to clap and dance. Kids in the audience participated by waving streamers to the beat.
The program also showed off the band’s versatility in playing in several musical styles. The program included “The Liberty Bell March” by John Phillip Sousa, “The Syncopated Clock” by Leroy Anderson, “Baby Boogie” by Andrea Ravizza, and “Santana a Portrait,” a medley of Latin-rock music by Carlos Santana, arranged by Giancarlo Gazzini, among other familiar tunes.
WestwoodWinds is comprised of high-level amateur musicians. Some are current students, and many are former middle-school and high-school musicians from Westwood and surrounding towns. The ensemble even includes sets of family members, such as parents and children, or uncles and nieces. The members all enjoy continuing their participation in music by playing with an ensemble. Several members also contributed polished solos to the program.
Melissa Laurencio, the new music director, kept the band on track with excellent direction. She is a performer, director, and private instructor with 20 years of experience as a professional clarinetist. After the concert, she said that working with the band was “a blast! I had a great time working with the musicians since June to prepare for this concert, and it was a highlight of my summer!”
You can find out more, including how to book, support, or join the WestwoodWinds Community Band, at http:///www.westwoodwinds.org. Next time they perform, stop by for some great entertainment!
