June 10 - Opening Night-"Meet the Conductor"

“Meet the Conductor”

American Legion March…………………………………………………Charles Parker

The Music Makers……………………………………….......……………. Alfred Reed

La Belle Helene Overture……….......................………………….Offenbach/Odom 

Sinfonia di Caccia.........................................Leopold Mozart/arr. William Browne

French Horn Section Feature

 Crooner’s Serenade...................................................................Justin Williams

 Italian Rhapsody............................................................................Julie Giroux

 Jazz Me Blues........................................................Tom Delaney / arr. Rhodes

Featuring the Retired Rum-Runners Dixieland Jazz Band

Bricusse and Newley on Broadway........................................arr. Warren Barker

Powhatan’s Daughter.............................................................John Philip Sousa

Blue Moon……………………………......................Rodgers and Hart/arr. Barker

                                            Sally Duke, Vocalist

Circus Days.........................................................................Karl King/Schissell

God Bless America………..………………………………….Irving Berlin /arr Rhodes

Sally Duke, Vocalist

Star Spangled Banner……………………….…………………arr. Sousa- Damrosch

 Jay Gephart, Conductor

Curt Alexander, Announcer

Special thanks to our  Contributing Sponsor Community First Bank of Indiana

Professor Jay Gephart grew up a few miles southwest of Kokomo in Montgomery County.  He has been a fan of the KPB for many years and has appeared as guest conductor on numerous occasions.  He brings to our community a vast amount of experience and completely understands the role of this band in the greater Kokomo area.  We welcome him as our new Artistic Director. 

Jay S. Gephart joined the faculty of Purdue University in the fall of 1995 after having completed 12 years as a public school band director. In July of 2001, he was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure and in 2009 was promoted to Full Professor. In November, 2006, Professor Gephart was appointed the Al G. Wright Chair of University Bands and Orchestras. He currently serves as Director of the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band & the Purdue University Wind Ensemble. He is also coordinator of the concert band program. From 1995-2006, Professor Gephart served as the music director for the Purdue Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Gephart received a Master of Music Degree in Performance with High Distinction from Indiana University in 1988 and a Bachelor of Music Education Degree with Distinction from Indiana University in 1983. Under his direction, the Purdue Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra have shared the stage with some of the nation’s outstanding soloists and have represented Purdue at the Indiana Music Educator’s Association state convention on two occasions. In February of 2012 the Purdue Wind Ensemble performed a concert at the national convention of the American Bandmaster’s Association, held in Indianapolis. He has also served as a guest conductor, clinician, lecturer and adjudicator both nationally and internationally. He has commissioned numerous works for wind band, including “Anthem” by Steven Bryant which was premiered in 2011 celebrating the 125th Anniversary of Purdue Bands.

In May, 2008, he traveled with the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band to Beijing, China to perform in the “Meet in Beijing” International Arts and Music Festival prior to the Olympic Games and in 2006 his Purdue Symphonic Band performed at the New York Wind Band Festival at Carnegie Hall. Professor Gephart has conducted All-State Bands in Indiana and Arkansas and served as a clinician at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. In 1997, he was selected to conduct the music camp honor band for the Department of Education in the Northern Region of Queensland, Australia. In his career he has been the recipient of many awards and honors including the Indiana Outstanding Bandmaster Award and the Purdue University New Professional Award.

Mr. Gephart has been very active in various professional organizations including Music Educator’s National Conference, National Band Association, College Band Director’s National Association, Indiana Bandmaster’s Association, Indiana Music Educator’s Association and Phi Beta Mu. From 2010-12, he served as President of the Big Ten Band Director’s Association and currently holds the position of Treasurer of the John Philip Sousa Foundation. He is also a member of the NBA Revelli Composition Contest selection committee. In 2012, he was elected to a position on the board of the National Band Association, serving as the Collegiate Representative. Professor Gephart was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmaster’s Association in 2008 and has served as President of the Indiana Bandmaster’s Association. He, his wife Jana and their family reside in Lafayette, Indiana.