August 30, 2015

A spectrum of sound

By Laura Edwards
Convention
A spectrum of sound
David Abrahamian, center, and Michael Shaw, right, of American Legion Band of the Tonawandas, of Tonowanda, N.Y., are awarded first place in the band competition by National Commander Michael D. Helm. (Photo by Lucas Carter)

Concert band competition returns to national convention.

After a year's hiatus, The American Legion National Convention Band Contest roared back to life at the Baltimore Convention Center on Aug. 29.

The four competing concert bands all found ways to either stir memories with well-known music or demonstrate through less familiar pieces how music can adapt. Among the three pieces per band:

• The Waltham (Mass.) American Legion Band concluded with the overture to "The Barber of Seville," a classic certainly familiar to fans of opera (and possibly to fans of classic cartoons).

• The American Legion Band of Greater Kansas City (Mo.) - making its 64th consecutive competitive appearance at the national convention - stacked the middle of its set with "The Viking March," part of which has been in use since 1912 as the fight song for Indiana University.

• The American Legion Band of the Tonawandas (N.Y.) expertly turned bagpipes into saxophones and clarinets in adapting "Hymn of the Highlands."

• And the Brattleboro (Vt.) American Legion Band performed a less familiar song by "Star Wars"'/Indiana Jones/"Saving Private Ryan"/etc. composer John Williams - this one for the 1976 World War II movie "Midway."

"It was nice to see concert bands back," commented Chief Judge Dave Priester. "They certainly come here with the right attitude ... that 'we're going to let them know we're here.'" He added that the band contest is seeing increased interest again, especially as the 2018 convention in Minneapolis - site of the beginning of the Legion's Centennial Celebration - gets closer.

The final scores:

Tonawandas: 94.3

Kansas City: 92.0

Brattleboro: 84.7

Waltham: 78.3

The contest was streamed live on legion.org, and will soon be available on demand on the LegionTV site, as well as several other events of the national convention.

Waltham American Legion Band from Waltham, Mass. competes in the band competition during the 97th Annual American Legion National Convention in Baltimore. Photo by Lucas Carter.
Waltham American Legion Band from Waltham, Mass. competes in the band competition during the 97th Annual American Legion National Convention in Baltimore. Photo by Lucas Carter.
The American Legion Band of Greater Kansas City, of Kansas City, Mo. competes in the band competition during the 97th Annual American Legion National Convention in Baltimore. Photo by Lucas Carter.
The American Legion Band of Greater Kansas City, of Kansas City, Mo. competes in the band competition during the 97th Annual American Legion National Convention in Baltimore. Photo by Lucas Carter.
Heather Pickett of American Legion Band of Greater Kansas City, of Kansas City, Mo., conducts during the band competition during the 97th Annual American Legion National Convention in Baltimore. Photo by Lucas Carter
The American Legion Band of Greater Kansas City, of Kansas City, Mo. competes in the band competition during the 97th Annual American Legion National Convention in Baltimore. Photo by Lucas Carter.
A judge makes notes as American Legion Band of the Tonawandas, of Tonowanda N.Y., competes in the band competition during the 97th Annual American Legion National Convention in Baltimore. Photo by Lucas Carter.
The American Legion Band of the Tonawandas, of Tonowanda N.Y., competes in the band competition during the 97th Annual American Legion National Convention in Baltimore. Photo by Lucas Carter.
The American Legion Band of the Tonawandas, of Tonowanda N.Y., competes in the band competition during the 97th Annual American Legion National Convention in Baltimore. Photo by Lucas Carter.
A Tonawandas percussions puts away her mallets after the American Legion Band of the Tonawandas, of Tonowanda N.Y., competed in the band competition during the 97th Annual American Legion National Convention in Baltimore, Md. Photo by Lucas Carter
The Brattleboro American Legion Band of Brattleboro, Vt., competes in the band competition during the 97th Annual American Legion National Convention in Baltimore. Photo by Lucas Carter.
A child listens to the Brattleboro American Legion Band of Brattleboro, Vt., as they compete in the band competition during the 97th Annual American Legion National Convention in Baltimore. Photo by Lucas Carter.
The Brattleboro American Legion Band of Brattleboro, Vt., competes in the band competition during the 97th Annual American Legion National Convention in Baltimore. Photo by Lucas Carter.
A member of Brattleboro American Legion Band taped a Family Circus cartoon to their music stand as they competed in the band competition during the 97th Annual American Legion National Convention in Baltimore. Photo by Lucas Car
National Commander Michael D. Helm speaks during the awards ceremony for the band competition during the 97th Annual American Legion National Convention in Baltimore. Photo by Lucas Carter.
David Abrahamian and Michael Shaw of American Legion Band of the Tonawandas, of Tonowanda N.Y. are awarded first place in the band competition during the 97th Annual American Legion National Convention by National Commander Michael D. Helm.
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