December Delights

 Saturday, December 9, 2023 7 PM
The Playhouse at White Lake, Downtown Whitehall

45 Years of WOW! Pre-concert Talk
6:15 PM with Conductor Mrs. Gail A. Brechting

(Lobby Music Provided by WINDS Brass)

Concert Program

“American Christmas” - Arr. Thomas Graf

WINDS Woodwind Chamber Choir

Flutes -Maryanne Beery, Susan Kiehl, Suzanne Lavin, Kathleen Johnston, Jenny VanDen Heuvel, Kelyn Celeskey, Rachel Martineau, Roxanne Deibel, Jillaena Weesies, Sein Chang
Oboe -Michele Wheeler,
Bassoons – Mandy Tomlinson, Jane Holt
Clarinets – Paula Whisman, James Brunner, Cathy Lintula, Laurie Lubbers, Carolyn Buboltz, Lynn Paul, Linda Browand, Jane Bednarz, Deb Sheckler, Carol Schwemin
Bass Clarinets – Mike Hill, Cameron Wiseman
Horn – James Sheckler
Percussion – Andrew Susalla

“Mary Did You Know?” - Arr. Eddy Lewis

Flugelhorn Trio

Gary Smith, Shar Bourdon, Sean Sweany

“Grown Up Christmas List”- Arr. Kenneth Abeling
“Christmas Medley for Saxophones”- Arr. Matthew Younglove

Saxophone Choir

Soprano Saxophone – Justin Auten
Alto Saxophone – Shaun Skibinski, Matt Ostoin, Steve Vitto
Tenor Saxophone – Amanda Serocke, Marty O’Toole, Rebecca Gierhart
Baritone Saxophone – Dave Lintula

“Yuletide Celebration”- Nathan Daughtry

Percussion Quintet

Chuck Hodson, Dan Cole, Frank Brechting, Michelle Wazny, Nolan Johnson

“Riu, Riu, Chiu” - Mateo Flecha, 15th Century Spanish. Arr. Christopher Warren

WINDS Euphonium & Tuba Choir

Euphonium – Teresa Dunn, Jim Hilton, Jennifer Carey, Monte Rogers, Dan Horton, Bob Tuttle
Tuba – Kim Reynolds, Rob Hardenberg, Bret Wazny, Richard Rothe, Jake Reed, Vince Browand
Percussion – Sandy Beck and Andrew Susalla

“A Christmas Jazz Suite” - Arr. Bill Holcombe

Flute Quartet

Roxanne Deibel, Jillaena Weesies, Jenny Vandenheuvel, Rachel Martineau

“Coventry Carol” - Arr. Richard Price
“Sing We Now of Christmas”- Arr. Richard Price
“Away in a Manger” - Arr. Richard Price

Burnished Brass Quintet

Trumpets – Sharlene Bourdon, Craig Bourdon
Horn – Susan Peeples
Trombone – Bill Price
Tuba – Kim Reynolds

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  15 minute Intermission ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Dawn Carol” - Margaret Lowe

Flute Choir

Maryanne Beery, Susan Kiehl, Suzanne Lavin, Kathleen Johnston, Jenny Vandenheuvel, Kelyn Celeskey, Rachel Martineau, Roxanne Deibel, Jillaena Weesies

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” - Traditional Arr. Doris Gazda and Larry Clark
“Angels We Have Heard on High” - French Carol Arr. Doris Gazda and Larry Clark

Trombone Choir

Trombone - Dale Smith, Ron Gibbs, Keith Danielson, Bill Price, T Rose, Keegan Kalisek, Chuck Hornung
Bass Trombone - Klay Woodworth, Tom Weaver

“Greensleeves” - Arr. Bjorn Marin

Flutes and Harp

Flutes - Jillaena Weesies, Rachel Martineau, Jenny Vandenheuvel,
Harp - Sandy Beck

“Shepherd, Shake off Your Drowsy Sleep” - Trad. Carol
“Shepherd’s Farewell” - Hector Berlioz
“Ding Dong Merrily on High” - Trad. Carol

Horn Choir

Allen Beck, James Sheckler, Carrie Sorenson, Elizabeth Johnson, Amy VanderLaan, Amber Russell, Terrie Hampel, Judy Fuller, Ken Kloet

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” - Arr. Jason Sullivan
“Carol of the Bells” - Mykolaiv Leontovych. Arr. Fernando Britto

Bassoon Trio

Mandy Tomlinson, Jane Holt, Miriam Acosta

“Christmas Toons!” - Arr. Anthony Di Lorenzo

WINDS Brass Chamber Choir

Piccolo Trumpet – David Meyers
Trumpet & Flugelhorn – Gary Oberlin, Gary Smith, David Meyers, John Highhill, Craig Bourdon, Sean Sweany, Jim Baker, Sharlene Bourdon, Kim Emmons-Brayton, Matthew Gilbert, Jim Johnson, John Brunner, Thom Lemon
Horns - Allen Beck, James Sheckler, Carrie Sorenson, Elizabeth Johnson, Amy VanderLaan, Jennifer Reeths, Amber Russell, Terrie Hampel, Judy Fuller, Ken Kloet
Trombones – Dale Smith, Ron Gibbs, Keith Danielson, Bill Price, Keegan Kalisek, Chuck Hornung, T Rose
Bass Trombones – Klay Woodworth, Tom Weaver
Tubas - Kim Reynolds, Rob Hardenberg, Bret Wazny, Richard Rothe, Jake Reed, Vince Broward
Drum Set – Olivia Kieffer
Percussion – Sandy Beck

Meet the Conductor

Gail A. Brechting, Conductor & Musical Director
West Michigan Concert Winds

Gail Brechting is in her twenty-seventh year as the conductor of the award-winning West Michigan Concert WINDS.   Under her direction, the WINDS received the John Phillip Sousa Foundation’s Sudler Silver Scroll Award, America’s most prestigious community concert band award. She has organized five international tours with the WINDS, with a 2024 Scotland/Ireland tour being planned. She has had the privilege of conducting the WINDS in Chicago’s Symphony Hall, as well as the historic Carnegie Hall in New York City. Before becoming conductor, Mrs. Brechting was principal trombone with the WINDS and performed with many area music ensembles including the Traverse City Symphony, the Lansing Concert Band, The Lake Effect Brass, and the West Shore Symphony. In addition, is a soprano vocal soloist in West Michigan.

From 1996-1999 Mrs. Brechting represented MSBOA as the State Representative for the Michigan Youth Arts Festival. For forty years, she has been an active district and state level adjudicator for low brass, band and orchestras as well as teaching private trombone, euphonium and tuba lessons to students of all ages.

She has been the guest conductor with the Acadia Winds in Louisiana, Hot Springs Community Band in Arkansas, was the featured conductor with the Louisiana Middle School Honors Band, and she served as guest clinician and conductor with the Winter Park High School in Florida. She is the 2019 & 2022 recipient of the Harry Begian Conductor Scholar award, through Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.

Mrs. Brechting is presently the  Past President of the Association of Concert Bands, also serving two previous terms on the board of directors. She has recently been named the Lifelong Arts Program Director with Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. She is a member of the National Band Association, an Associate Member of the American Bandmasters Association, the College Band Directors Association, an Emeritus member of Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, P.E.O. and the Women Band Directors Association. She is the first woman selected by the John Philip Sousa Foundation to serve on the Sudler Silver Scroll Award selection committee and was recently appointed the chairwomen of this committee.  She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Central Michigan University and a Master of Arts degree from West Michigan University. Mrs. Brechting is a former music faculty of Muskegon Community College and retired in 2019, after a 40-year public school music education career, 34 of those with the Reeths-Puffer Schools in Muskegon, MI. In her spare time, she trains and competes as a US Masters swimmer, recently attaining two gold and silver medals.

Mrs. Brechting lives in Spring Lake with her engineer/pianist husband Frank. Their daughter Annelise is a Physician Assistant in Greenville, SC. 

Support the WINDs

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Please consider supporting the Shoreline Symphony Orchestra and the West Michigan Concert Winds by making a donation.

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Media Sponsor

Blue Lake Public Radio is a proud Media Sponsor of The West Michigan Concert Winds.

Blue Lake Public Radio

WINDs & SCO Upcoming Concerts

Saturday, Nov 2, 2024
A Legacy of Loyalty & Service Concert

with Shoreline Community Orchestra

This concert has been made possibly by the generous donation of John Max Busard and Elizabeth Busard Fund in Memory of Dr. and Mrs. R. I. Busard of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County.

Wednesday, Dec 11, 2024 7pm
A Christmas Side by Side

with Reeths Puffer Band
Reeths Puffer High School Theatre

Saturday, March 1, 2025
Red Cedar Community Band Festival

Okemos High School, Okemos

Sunday, March 30, 2025 4pm
Winners & Winds

Fruitport Performing Arts Center

Saturday, May 10, 2025 7PM
Unidad en Ritmo Concert

with Shoreline Community Orchestra
Frauenthal Center, Muskegon