2016 Big Band Night

Big Band Night
July 6, 2016
John Huntoon, Director
with Cherresa Lawson,  Diana Huntoon, Erin Benedict and Gary Wallyn, vocals

PROGRAM

 

American Legion March..........................................Bagley

 

Strike Up The Band…George Gershwin / Sammy Nestico

 

Big Band Salute…………………….arr. by Steve Rhodes

 

My Funny Valentine… .......Rodgers & Hart / Jerry Nowak

featuring vocalist Cherresa Lawson

 

Caravan…Duke Ellington and Juan Tizol / Dave Barduhn

 

Azure…Duke Ellington / Rusty Dedrick / ed. by Rhodes

 

Jumpin’ at the Woodside…...Hathaway / ed. by Rhodes

 

Fever…...……John Davenport & Eddie Cooley / Holmes

featuring vocalist Diana Huntoon

 

I’ll Fly Away…………………...……arr. by Chris McDonald

 

720 In The Books………………Jan Savitt / Steve Rhodes

 

Skylark….…Johnny Mercer& Hoagy Carmichael / Nowak

featuring vocalist Erin Benedict

 

That Old Black Magic….…Harold Arlen / Frank Mantooth

 

Misty…………………………Erroll Garner / Dave Barduhn

 

The Lady Is A Tramp…..Rodgers, Hart & Richard /Wolpe

featuring vocalist Gary Wallyn

 

Joshua Fit The Battle of Jericho…arr. by Chris McDonald

            featuring Erin Benedict, Diana Huntoon, and Cherresa Lawson

 

Hey Jude……………………………..arr. by Adrian Drover

 

Star Spangled Banner

John Huntoon, Director

Curt Alexander, Announcer


John Huntoon, can usually be seen leading the Kokomo Park Band’s trombone section. He has been teaching at Anderson University since 2002 and has just been appointed Director of Bands at A.U. His extensive performing experience in both symphonic and jazz idioms, high degree of professionalism and his exuberant and dynamic personality





Erin Benedict is making her debut on the KBP stage tonight. She has travelled the world performing in venues such as the Venito Jazz Festival in Venice Italy, the RCA Jazz Fest in New York City, Westminster Abbey and the Sydney Opera House. She has recorded for Walt Disney (movies, theme parks and ice shows), Sandi Patti, New York’s American Natural History Museum, Dollywood, national publishers and many more. Benedict is a graduate of The Manhattan School of Music in Jazz Voice Performance and Commercial Music. Erin now resides in Indianapolis and is the vocalist for the Second @ Six jazz service at Second Presbyterian Church, and is a studio session singer at Aire Born Studios and The Lodge Studios. 
Diana Huntoon, soprano, received her Bachelors of Music Degree in Education from Millikin University and her Masters in Vocal Performance from Bowling Green State Unive
rsity. She has performed with numerous professional opera and musical theatre organizations including The Ohio Light Opera, Toledo Opera and The Black Swamp Players. Diana is also the former Music Director of Faith Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis. She is currently on staff at Anderson University as adjunct instructor of voice as well as soprano soloist and Interim Musical Director at First Baptist Church of Indianapolis. Diana has appeared on numerous occasions with the Kokomo Park Band most recently in 2014.

Cherresa Lawson is no stranger to Kokomo audiences and has been a popular attraction nearly every year with the KPB. She is Director of the award-winning Kokomo High School Choirs. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Music from Ball State University and is active as a performer and teacher. She was the 2005 American Traditions Competition semi-finalist and has performed jazz, blues, and pop music at numerous venues across the Midwest for several years with various artists including the Caribbean Consort Steel Band.  


Gary Wallyn is a native of Chicago. He graduated from St. Joseph College and Indiana State University and served as a band director for 21 years at Princeton and Kokomo High Schools. More recently he served as interim music director at St. Joseph College and Indiana State University and is currently the band director at Alexandria Schools. Wallyn sings in the Indianapolis Symphonic Chorus, is a soloist with the St. Joan of Arc Church Choir in Kokomo and has been featured on numerous occasions as a baritone soloist with the Kokomo Symphony. When he’s not singing with the Kokomo Park Band, Wallyn can be found playing in the Kokomo Park Band’s saxophone section.

  BIG BAND PERSONNEL

CONDUCTOR: John Huntoon

Alto SAXOPHONE:    Neil Broeker, Carl Thoele, 

Tenor SAXOPHONE:   Ned Boyd, Larry Kirkman

Bari SAXOPHONE:   Bill Schmidt

TRUMPET:   

Bruce Knepper, Dave Whistler, Jeremy Snyder, Ray Davidson

TROMBONE:   

Freddie Mendoza, Will Frazier, Joe Neff, Larry Lawhead

 KEYBOARD:    Roy Geesa

 BASS:   Fred Withrow

 DRUMS:  Art Reiner

 

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