Palm Springs Pride-2023
Palm Springs Pride was on a perfect Sunday and a huge crowd was present to celebrate Pride and enjoy the parade. The Desert Winds Freedom Band fielded perhaps its largest group to date, including color guard, twirler, banner carriers, our artistic director, Dean McDowell and support personnel. Besides our regular band members, we were joined by other Pride Band Alliance members from Los Angeles, Florida, Ohio and New Mexico.
It was truly a fun, colorful and entertaining event to celebrate PRIDE weekend!
It was truly a fun, colorful and entertaining event to celebrate PRIDE weekend!
2023 DAP Health Equity WalkThe Desert Winds Pep Band performed on Saturday, October 29 on the plaza next to Starbucks in downtown Palm Springs with our valley's famous perfect weather. The Pep Band performed some lively marches and popular music for the fundraising walkers and the downtown Palm Springs crowd. It was great fun, and a great event.
|
|
Desert Winds Freedom Band -Season 22
On September 7, 2023, the Desert Winds Freedom Band began it's Twenty-Second Season of music. We have quite a few new musicians this year, enough that it appears we will have about 110 performing on stage for our Fall Concert, 'Music in Motion'. We are happy to say that our members this season include a number of musicians from local valley middle and high schools.
Concerto, Sonata and small group Concert
|
On April 29th the Band performed a unique matinee concert featuring soloists and smaller groups of band members. Band member Sherri Marmon performed the Chaminade Concertino for Flute and Band member Randall Creighton performed the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2, First Movement. Besides these major works, there were small group performances by the entire brass section, clarinets, low reeds, a bassoon trio, low brass and solo trombone.
We were thrilled to have all four of our Season 21 Scholarship winners performing with the band for this event, where a formal presentation of their $1000 scholarship checks was made. A reception followed in the front hall of the concert venue. |
|
Special Awards at the Season 21 Spring Concert
Bob Montooth Spirit Award
This year's winner of the Bob Montooth Spirit Award is Bryon Wirth. The award honors the memory of a long time band member and late husband of our Artistic Director Dean McDowell by recognizing a Band member who demonstrates Bob's spirit, dedication, and enthusiasm in contributing to the organization.
Bryon is a trumpet player who plays in both the Concert Band and the Jazz Ensemble. He is also the music librarian for the Jazz Ensemble and the Pep Band, responsible for making certain that all the musicians have the correct parts for each musical number and also for ongoing storage and maintenance of the Jazz Ensemble music. Besides all of this, Bryon is a go-to person for whatever needs to be done, such as concert set-up or takedown, or driving a moving truck to a gig.
Thank You Bryon, and Congratulations!
This year's winner of the Bob Montooth Spirit Award is Bryon Wirth. The award honors the memory of a long time band member and late husband of our Artistic Director Dean McDowell by recognizing a Band member who demonstrates Bob's spirit, dedication, and enthusiasm in contributing to the organization.
Bryon is a trumpet player who plays in both the Concert Band and the Jazz Ensemble. He is also the music librarian for the Jazz Ensemble and the Pep Band, responsible for making certain that all the musicians have the correct parts for each musical number and also for ongoing storage and maintenance of the Jazz Ensemble music. Besides all of this, Bryon is a go-to person for whatever needs to be done, such as concert set-up or takedown, or driving a moving truck to a gig.
Thank You Bryon, and Congratulations!
|
The Dencil White Leadership Award
This year the Board of Directors of the Desert Winds Freedom Band created a new award to honor our outgoing Band President, Dencil White. Dencil was a founding member of the Washington D.C. band, DCs Different Drummers. When he moved to Palm Springs he joined the Desert Winds Freedom Band where he plays trumpet, was on the Board as Secretary, and currently is finishing his unprecedented 6th year as President of the Band. Dencil's list of accomplishments is too long to list here. But consider that the Band has grown by 30% during his time as President and he helped the Band navigate and survive COVID (a difficult problem for a non-profit band that couldn't perform concerts for 18 months). To honor the legacy of Dencil's sustained leadership, dedication, and welcoming, inclusive spirit, the Board has created the 'Dencil White Leadership Award' with Dencil as the first recipient. The award will be given to Band Members who emulate Dencil White and his sustained commitment to music, performance, leadership, and the welfare of our organization. Thank You Dencil, and Congratulations! |
Dencil White receives the award named in his honor from Band President-elect Andrew Nelson
|
|
|
Desert Winds Freedom Band Music Scholarship Awards Each year at our Spring Concert, the Band awards scholarships of $1000 to graduates of local high schools who are pursuing a degree in music or music education in college. Since the inception of the scholarship awards, the Band has awarded $42,000 . This program is funded by generous donors and the Ralph Fingerle Trust. Congratulations to this years scholarship winners. Benjamin Dinero, Palm Springs High School Instrument-percussion College-Berklee College of Music Major-Music Production Ernest Lopez, Cathedral City High School Instrument-trombone College-University of Redlands Major-Music Performance Kayla de Guzman, Cathedral City High School Instrument-oboe, clarinet College-University of Redlands Major-Music Performance Brian Linares, Cathedral City High School Instrument-tuba, euphonium College-University of Redlands Major-Music Performance |
Desert Winds Season 21 Spring Concert
The Desert Winds Freedom Band Spring Concert took place on March 25th and 26th at Temple Isaiah in Palm Springs to a nearly full house for both performances. The Concert Theme was 'The Sky's the Limit' and included music from Star Trek, Shostakovich's Festive Overture and several beautiful works by guest Composer Richard Saucedo. Artistic Director Dean McDowell let both the Concert Band and the Jazz Ensemble in a concert to remember. During the concert, the winner of the Bob Montooth Spirit Award was announced along with the names of the winners of the Band's music scholarship awards for 2023 (see above). To date, the band has awarded $41,000 in scholarships with the help of generous donors and the Ralph Fingerly Trust. We thank our supporters for making the Spring Concert a big success!
Season 21 Jazz Band Concert
and Gala Fund Raiser
The Desert Winds Freedom Band Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Dean McDowell, played to a sold out crowd at the Band's annual fundraiser on February 26, 2023. Performing with the Jazz Ensemble were guest vocalists Hope Diamond and Patrick Barnitt. Musical selections included The Summer Wind, Here's to Life, Days of Wine and Roses, Fly Me To the Moon, I've Got You Under My Skin, Girl From Ipanema, That's Life, Cry Me A River, Moonlight in Vermont, Summertime, Georgia On My Mind, It Don't Mean a Thing, and Night and Day. Besides the musical entertainment, an excellent dinner was served and there was a silent auction of many items including a 'Wall of Wine'.
Desert Winds Season 21 Fall Concert
'California Dreamin'
On November 19, 2021 the Desert Winds Freedom Band performed their Fall Concert 'California Dreamin' to a near sell-out crowd at the Richards Center in Palm Springs. The Symphonic Band included over 100 musicians for this concert of music all about California. The Jazz Band performed California Themed music as well, with assistance from vocalists Keisha D and Charles Herrera. Complementing the music were some amazing videos created by James Ditchfield and the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway showing scenes from the Coachella Valley and surrounding natural areas projected on a large screen behind the band.
Palm Springs PRIDE 2022!
The Desert Winds Freedom Band joined hundreds of other marchers on Sunday, November 6 for this year's Pride Parade. The band fielded an impressive contingent including our musicians, color guard with flags and rifles and a twirler! There are more pics from the parade below!
(Thanks to Band friend Fran Potaski for the great photos)
(Thanks to Band friend Fran Potaski for the great photos)
Desert Winds Freedom Band President Wins
'Pillars of Pride' Award
|
The Band is very please to announce that our President, Dencil White was awarded the 'Pillars of Pride' award at the Annual Meeting of the Pride Bands Alliance in Chicago. Desert Winds Freedom Band is a long time member of the Pride Bands Alliance, an association of 36 LGBTQ bands world wide.
Pride Bands Alliance gives the Pillars of Pride award to a group or individual each year at it's annual meeting "to recognize outstanding service or contributions to the growth and development of Pride Bands by one its members." Dencil has been President of Desert Winds Freedom Band for 6 years, and served as Secretary prior to that. He has guided the Band through COVID and amazing growth in Band membership. He is also one of the founding members of the Washington, D. C. band, 'D.C.'s Different Drummers'. |
|
Desert Winds May Concert of Pop and Jewish Music
On May 1st, the Band performed a free afternoon concert of Pop music and Jewish music jointly sponsored with Temple Isaiah. The music was well received by the audience which filled the auditorium. Afterwards, band members mingled with the audience for light refreshments.
Desert Winds 20th Anniversary Spring Concert 'Infinite Hope'.
The Band performed an evening and a matinee performance of our 20th Anniversary Spring Concert at Temple Isaiah on March 26th and 27th to a nearly sold out house. Artistic Director Dean McDowell led the Symphonic Band and the Jazz Band in music appropriate to the concert theme 'Infinite Hope'. Guest Composer/Conductor Brian Balmages conducted two of his works, and Band Founder Gary Moline conducted a march. Helping the Band celebrate its 20th Anniversary Season, members from some of the men's choruses performed with the Band for the concerts closing number. A highlight of the concert was the premier performance of the work 'Ascent from Darkness', commissioned by the Band and composed by Band member Rosano Galante. The Band awarded five music scholarships to local High School seniors at this year's concert. Please check out some Concert photos below!
|
|
Jazz Band Concert Fundraiser 'Isn't It Romantic?'On February 27th, the Desert Winds Jazz Band held its Gala Fundraising Concert at Temple Isaiah. The concert was SOLD OUT! Almost 200 people enjoyed dinner, dancing and a concert by the Jazz Band led by Artistic Director Dean McDowell. They were joined by four very talented guest vocalists.
The Band truly appreciates this great show of support from our audience, as well as the hard work by the Jazz Band and vocalists in preparation for the concert. |
Our 2021 Fall Concert, 'A Night on Broadway'The Desert Winds Freedom Band returned to performing live after a two year hiatus. The first concert of the Band's 20th Anniversary Season, "A Night on Broadway '', SOLD OUT with over 650 audience members enjoying a great evening of music featuring the Symphonic Band and Jazz Band, along with two wonderful vocalists under the baton of our Artistic Director, Dean McDowell.
|
|