For immediate release June 27, 2008

Media contact: Jacquie Lucy 410-869-7168

CCBC’s Baltimore Symphonic Band embarks on a three-city European concert tour
Performances scheduled in Croatia (July 9 and 11) and Slovenia (July 13)

Baltimore County, Md. – The Baltimore Symphonic Band, in residence at the Community College of Baltimore County, will perform three concerts in Europe this July. The BSB will give two concerts in Croatia – July 9 in Opatija and July 11 in Porec. On Sunday, July 13, the band will perform at the 13th International Music Festival Bled in Bled, Slovenia, the former summer home of Marshall Tito.

The 37 members of the 60-member BSB, who will be on tour this year, will also spend time in Vienna, Austria, the beautiful city that influenced so many classical musicians including Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Strauss and Brahms. For more details of the tour, visit the BSB Web site at www.geocities.com/baltimoreband/Tour.asp.htm.

According to CCBC Music Professor Christopher Wolfe, the founder and musical director of the BSB, the band will be performing an All-American musical concert including selections from Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story,” Aaron Copland’s “Simple Gifts,” a Gershwin medley, John Philip Sousa marches and much more.

For Christopher Williams, principal percussionist for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the featured soloist, this will be a family affair. His 19-year-old twin sons, Keith, UMCP sophomore Music Education major/percussionist, and Kyle, a sophomore Music Education major/trombone at Towson University, will join him on stage in performing the music of Lionel Hampton.

“These tours give us a different perspective on community bands,” remarks Cindy Suchanek of Overlea, the President of the BSB and clarinetist. Immersed in the music, the band comes together as a group. “We are definitely a stronger, better performing band as a result of these international tours.”

Wolfe, who is also the assistant principal clarinetist for the BSO, endorses this sentiment. “Community bands are huge in Europe. Our international tours let our students see the importance that other countries place on instrumental music as well as the fabulous outdoor facilities and extensive children’s music programs that they have and this experience has translated into a stronger performing group for us,” he said.

Established in 1981, the Baltimore Symphonic Band is made up of CCBC Music students, alumni including many county music teachers, community residents and professional musicians. The self-directed group has had a nine-year relationship with Erickson Retirement Communities to provide six concerts a year for their residents; including a Christmas and summer series. For more information on the BSB, call 410-780-6536.

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About CCBC
Rooted in the community since 1957, CCBC educates nearly 65,000 students each year, including half of all Baltimore County residents attending college in Maryland as undergraduates. Offering more than 50 different associate degrees and 100 certificate programs, CCBC is ranked among the best in providing undergraduate education, work force development, technology, health care training and life enrichment options to citizens throughout the Baltimore Metropolitan area. CCBC also provides customized employee development training to more than 100 companies annually.

Community College Week (June 16, 2008) based on U.S. Department of Education data ranked CCBC 73rd largest producer of associates degrees in the nation. Its Nursing program was ranked 33rd and its health professions and related clinical sciences ranked 41st nationally by the same publication.