Page 16 - May 2014 Dell & Cannon

WHAT’S
Happening
at RE
14 May 2014 I Ransom Everglades School I Dell + Cannon
Middle School Band Takes Two Large Ensembles to
District Competitions
Cathi Leibinger, Middle School Band Director
On Thursday, March 6, 2014 the RE Middle
School Symphonic Band traveled to Key
West High School to perform in their
District Music Performance Assessment. The band
earned a Superior rating from the three concert
adjudicators and a Superior rating from the sight
reading adjudicator for an overall rating of Superior.
Two days later the RE Middle School Concert Band
traveled to Robert Morgan High School to perform
in their District Music Performance Assessment.
The band earned an Excellent rating from the three
concert adjudicators and a Superior rating from
the sight reading adjudicator for an overall rating
of Excellent. This is the first year that the 7th grade band performed on their own and they were quite
well received.
Thank you to the band parents who attended these events and for their constant support of the RE Middle
School Band program.
Decorated WWII Veteran and
Renowned Conductor
Cathi Leibinger, Middle School Band Director
On Tuesday, March 11, 2014 the Ransom Everglades Symphonic Band hosted an all-school
assembly for a very special guest — Colonel Arnald Gabriel, Conductor Emeritus of the US
Air Force Band. In 1944, he landed on Omaha Beach during the Normandy Invasion as a 19
year old member of the 29th Army Infantry. Following his honorable discharge from the military, he
enrolled in Ithaca College, where he earned both Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Music
Education. He served as Commander/Conductor of the internationally renowned U.S. Air Force
Band, Symphony Orchestra, and Singing Sergeants from 1964 to 1985. In 1990, he was named
the first Conductor Emeritus of the USAF Band.
The band performed a short concert and then Colonel Gabriel answered student questions and told
stories about his experiences with the Air Force Band, performing for presidents and foreign heads
of state, and a touching story about his close friendship with Shirley Temple Black.
On June 6, 2014 Colonel Arnald Gabriel will be conducting the 70th Anniversary Memorial Concert
at the Normandy American Cemetery. I’m proud to have been selected to perform in the 100 piece
band for the historic concert in France.
Campus News
Ransom Everglades Symphonic Band, with
Ms. Leibinger and Colonel Arnald Gabriel
Ms. Leibinger, Colonel Arnald Gabriel,
and Ms. Alina Mendoza