On Friday, Jan. 27, 1984, the Herald Times-Reporter announced that a campus/community band to be called the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble was in the process of being organized by Michael Arendt, associate professor of music at the University of Wisconsin Center-Manitowoc County.
Arendt extended an invitation to musicians in the area with the desire to play, but had no outlet to do so, or wanted an additional performing opportunity. Openings in every section of the band were available.
Interested persons could join at no charge, or receive one UW credit by formally enrolling in the ensemble as a UW class.
Early rehearsals: how to join and when the band met
Rehearsals were held on Tuesday evenings 7-9 p.m. from Jan. 31-May 15 in the band room at UWC-MC, 705 Viebahn St.
Advertisements for members of the new Lakeshore Wind Ensemble appeared in the HTR.
First Lakeshore Wind Ensemble concert: March 1984 program highlights
The first concert of the LWE was held at 8:15 p.m. Thursday, March 22, 1984, in the Fine Arts Room at the UWC-MC campus. Admission was free.
The program began with Nicholas Rimpsky-Korsakov’s Procession of the Nobels, a grand march with a brass fanfare from the opera-ballet Mlada. This was followed by Pageant by Vincent Persichetti and Aaron Copland’s Lincoln Portrait, narrated by David Semmes, associate professor of communication arts at the Manitowoc campus.
After a short intermission, the ensemble played Felix Mendelssohn’s fiery Romantic masterpiece Piano Concerto No. 1 in G Minor (first movement) with a piano solo by Wesley Teply, lecturer in applied piano at the campus. Martin Mailman’s Liturgical Music for Band (four movements: Introit, Kyrie, Gloria, Alleluia) concluded the performance.
The audience was invited to attend a reception for the musicians immediately following the concert in the campus lounge.
Second concert in May 1984 featured Beethoven, Haydn and more
The second concert by the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble was held on Tuesday, May 15, 1984, also in the Fine Arts Room at campus. Selections included The Silver Quill concert march by Dale Harpham and Sammy Nestico, Ludvig van Beethoven’s Egmont Overture and Franz Joseph Haydn’s Concerto for Trumpet, with a trumpet solo by Brian H. Hanes, Roncalli High School’s band director.
1984-85 season: fall rehearsals and November-December concerts
Following the summer break, LWE rehearsals for the 1984-85 season were again advertised and new members were invited to join. Fall semester rehearsals resumed on Sept. 11 until Dec. 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the band room at UWC-MC.
The first concert of the new season was held on Thursday, Nov. 1, 1984. The performance featured John Philip Sousa’s The Fairest of the Fair March, Gustav Holst’s First Suite in E Flat and C. M. von Weber’s Concertino Op. 26 with clarinet soloist Jill Hanes, principal clarinetist with LWE and the Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra. A Christmas concert on Sunday, Dec. 9 featured A Carol Festival with an audience sing-along.
European tour plans: 1985 concerts and later international trips
In November 1984, the LWE announced plans for a two-week European tour of concerts and sightseeing in June 1985. During its first concert tour, the band visited Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) and Switzerland.
In later years, Professor Arendt led six other tours abroad with concerts in France, Italy, Scandinavia, Slovakia, Russia, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Japan, Ireland and Great Britain.
LWE conductors, independence in 2020 and a 42-year legacy
Arendt conducted the LWE for 30 years until 2014. Other conductors have included Dr. Daniel Ackley (2014-15) and Dr. Marc Sackman (2016-20). The current conductor and music director is Jeremiah Eis.
The LWE became fully private and independent of the university system in June 2020.
Congratulations to LWE on sharing the joy of music for the past 42 years. Bravo!
Bob Fay is a historian and former executive director of the Manitowoc County Historical Society.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: How the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble began at UW-Manitowoc County in 1984
Reporting by Bob Fay, Special to Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
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