Patriotism explodes in 100-member concert band performance

By Kathy Feist

A 100-member concert band including choir celebrated community and patriotism in an America 250 birthday concert on Sunday, June 28, in south Kansas City.

The Pinnacle Winds concert band organized by Dr. John Carmichael had surprises in store for its largest audience yet at its performance at the First Church of the Nazarene at 118th and State Line Road. The band was joined by The Summer Singers choral ensemble directed by Dr. William Baker.

The Star Spangled Banner officially kicked off the “America: 250 Birthdays and Counting” concert. The band was led by guest conductor Dr. David Vance, Director of Music at the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas.

It was followed by “A Golden Duo” which included Fanfare for Freedom and Yankee Doodle, both written during World War II and here conducted by Carmichael. The Summer Singers joined in on Hymn to the Fallen from the movie “Saving Private Ryan.”

A pleasant surprise was a debut performance by guest artist Benny Lee on clarinet. Lee, a Plaza resident, recently retired as self-made entrepreneur. Since then, it’s been his dream to perform on his clarinet with a concert band. Dr. Carmichael made that dream come true. Lee performed a slow but heartfelt jazzy number Stardust before an appreciative audience.

After a performance of Flag of Stars, Dr. Carmichael again made a surprise announcement. Sandy Adams was the top bidder of Pinnacle  Winds’ online auction to guest conduct Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa. Carmichael had little to worry about regarding amateurism. Adams is an elementary school teacher for the Kansas City Public Schools with a broad background in public school music education. She is also an oboist with Pinnacle Winds. She handedly led the band in a fast-stepping version of Stars and Stripes invigorating the audience in time for the intermission.

Pinnacle Winds often performs the Battle Hymn of the Republic this time of year (like many bands and symphonies). But this time, joined by the Summer Singers led by Dr. William Baker, the combination of voice and instruments was stunning, especially as the choir’s acapella solo led to the bands climactic finale.

What was meant to a fun performance of fast-moving “Armed Force Salute” turned into a moving experience as military veterans proudly stood when their military song was performed. There were a large number of military vets in the audience, most elderly. Clapping accompanied the music as the audience showed enthusiastic appreciation for their sacrifices for our country.

The concert ended with the popular Fourth of July piece “Overture of 1812” by Peter Tchaikovsky. This is always a fun composition where one can easily imagine canons firing and soldiers fighting to victory. The added choir voices gave it even more power.

On a lazy, hot and muggy Sunday afternoon, this concert was a summer refresher, leaving the harmony of patriotism as an sweet equalizer.