MEADVILLE, Pa. – March 4, 2009 – Under the direction of Professor Lowell Hepler, chairperson of the music department, Allegheny College will host the 62nd Annual Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Band Festival, March 13-15.
The festival will conclude with a free public concert on Sunday, March 15 at 2:30 p.m. in Shafer Auditorium. The concert program will feature works by Sousa, Gandolfi, Grainger, Williams, Davenport and others.
“The Intercollegiate Band has proven to be an invaluable asset in promoting collegiality and cooperation among Pennsylvania's collegiate band directors and their students,” said Hepler. The longest running intercollegiate band festival of its kind, the festival features leading musicians from Pennsylvania colleges and universities. Allegheny last hosted it in 1996.
This year, 117 student musicians from 25 Pennsylvania colleges and universities are expected to participate. Thirteen Allegheny students are participating: Mara DelVecchio, Nicole Eckstrom, Mike Faix, Rob Faris, Aaron Ingley, Kelsey King, Michael Lloyd, Stephanie Ogilbee, Dalton Phillips, Christopher Seeley, Tyler Sisson, Rachel Stamateris and Christopher Wahlmark.
The guest conductor for the festival will be Retired Colonel Timothy Foley. Foley retired in July 2004 as the director of the U.S. Marine Band, known as “the President’s Own,” in Washington, D.C. During his tenure as director, Foley served as music advisor to the White House and regularly conducted the band at the Executive Mansion. He recently served as a guest conductor for the U.S. Marine Band Chamber Orchestra.
“Through the summer Band Camp for Adult Musicians, which he has conducted at Allegheny since 2005, Colonel Foley has established an exceptional relationship with our community,” said Hepler. “He has the ability to inspire musicians of all ages and backgrounds to make music at the highest levels of their abilities, and to thoroughly enjoy the process.”
Also director of bands at Allegheny, Hepler is a frequent guest conductor for music festivals ranging from county through all-state levels. He is principal tuba with the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra, the Lake Erie Ballet Company and the Savelli Concert Band. He is also a frequent adjudicator for Pennsylvania Music Educators Association solo and ensemble festivals.
Hepler is the president-elect of the Pennsylvania Collegiate Bandmasters Association and is a past-president of the Pennsylvania Chapter of Phi Beta Mu, Honorary Bandmasters Fraternity. He has also served as the Pennsylvania chair for the College Band Directors National Association.
For more information, contact the music department at (814) 332-4338.
