Garber grad starts up local Summer Wind Ensemble

by Pati LaLonde | Contributing writer

Thursday June 11, 2009, 5:15 PM

Jeffrey A. Spenner has a dream.

It's a dream where musicians from all walks of life - professionals, amateurs and students - come together to play the classics and perform for the public.

And the Garber High School graduate is doing more than dreaming about it. The week of June 21-26, he'll host the first Bay Area Summer Wind Ensemble.

Concerts will be held at 7:30 p.m. June 24 at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 1705 Nebobish Ave., Essexville, and June 26 at Garber High School, 303 Pine St., Essexville.

Although now a student at the University of Illinois and a conductor in his own right, Spenner said he wanted to make his dream come true in his hometown.

"It's my way of trying to give back to my community - give something that's a part of me," he said. "I was always active in the school music program. It helped me shape who I am at college."

He's also hoping he can make a financial contribution to the schools that have students participating.

"I want to give back to the program that did a lot for me," he said. "I started thinking, this could be expanded upon to benefit not only Garber, but other area programs struggling in these economic times."

While the concerts are free, those attending may leave a donation that will be split among the participating schools.

Joining Spenner in the endeavor is Dr. Roby G. George, a visiting associate professor of bands at the University of Illinois. George was happy to sign on when Spenner requested his help.

"Jeffrey is a very special student," George said. "He's an incredible conductor. He's a special breed. I've never seen a student so actively involved in his education."

The tentative play list includes Shostakovich's "Festive Overture Opus 96," Lauridsen's "O Magnum Mysterium," Gillingham's "With Heart and Voice," Dello Joio's "Scenes from the Louvre," Grainger's "Children's March" and Holst's "First Suite in E-flat."

Bay City native Kevin Cole, who now makes his home in Chicago, is a tentative guest as well, along with the 30 to 35 musicians Spenner is hoping sign up for this premier event.

"In five or 10 years I would like it to have an orchestral aspect, add a jazz element, just to continue building on this, not only in ways that will bring this music to the community, but show what is possible in music and why music is important," he said.

And, who knows, says George, maybe 20 years from now people will look at this as the modern-day version of Interlochen.