2008 Concert Information

For the 6th year in a row our neighbors Frank Vascellaro and Amelia Santaniello will serve as hosts for the event!

Manny Laureano
Manny began his musical studies in the New York City public school system and received his Bachelor of Music Degree from the Juilliard School in 1977. He was appointed principal trumpet of the Seattle Symphony, a post he held for four years before serving in his current position as principal trumpet with the Minnesota Orchestra. As a conductor, he has worked with a variety of ensembles, ranging from having been Music Director of the Calhoun-Isles Community Band to a guest stint with the Minnesota Orchestra. He has been in demand as clinician for young orchestras throughout the state. In 2002, Manny and Claudette were invited to guest-conduct the National Suzuki Youth Orchestra Festival Orchestra and were invited to serve again in 2004. Manny has served as Co-Artistic Director of the Minnesota Youth Symphonies since 1988, conducts the MYS Symphony Orchestra, and is the brass and woodwind coach for the MYS Repertory Orchestra. He has commissioned many works from local composers over his tenure at MYS. Manny was appointed Assistant Conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra for the 2005-2006 seasons and still serves as a cover conductor and an occasional conductor for the orchestra's Young Person's concerts.

John Hoffacker
Internationally renowned as a conductor of intelligent and passionate performances, John Hoffacker received a doctorate degree in conducting at the Eastman School in Rochester, New York. For eleven years he led one of New England's pre-eminent chamber choruses, Cantemus, and was associate conductor of the Nashua (NH) Symphony Orchestra. Since moving to Minnesota in 2004 he has founded and conducts the Mississippi Valley Chorale and Chorus Polaris, serves as Director of Music at the Church of the Epiphany in Plymouth, and sings professionally as tenor soloist with orchestras and in the Minnesota Chorale. At the University of Minnesota he teaches Score Study and Choral Literature.
 

Steve Heitzeg
Emmy Award-winning composer Steve Heitzeg (b. 1959) is known for his music written in celebration of the natural world, with evocative and lyrical scores frequently including naturally-found instruments, such as stones, birch bark wind chimes and sea glass shards. An advocate for the 'peaceful coexistence of all species through music,' Heitzeg has written more than 100 works, including compositions for orchestra, chorus, chamber ensemble and PBS films.
 
Named 'Composer of the Year' at the 2000 Minnesota Music Awards and the recipient of a 2005 Bush Foundation Fellowship, Heitzeg has amassed a large body of compositions that address social and environmental issues with vision and compassion in such works as Aqua (Hommage à Jacques-Yves Cousteau), Blessed Are the Peacemakers, Blue Liberty, Elegy on Water, Endangered, Madeline Island: Sanctuary in Blue, Nobel Symphony, Symphony to the Prairie Farm, Voice of the Everglades (Tribute to Marjory Stoneman Douglas) and Wounded Fields.
 
His music has been commissioned or performed by the Atlanta Symphony, Auckland Philharmonia, Chanticleer, Dale Warland Singers, Detroit Symphony, Houston Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, members of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and VocalEssence, among others. Marin Alsop, Philip Brunelle, William Eddins, JoAnn Falletta, Giancarlo Guerrero, Jahja Ling, Christopher Seaman, Joseph Silverstein, Osmo Vänskä and Dale Warland are among the distinguished conductors who have led his works.

For more information on Steve please visit: http://www.steveheitzeg.com

The Zuhrah Pipes & Drums
The Zuhrah Pipes & Drums began its rich history in 1959, when it was chartered as an active unit of the Zuhrah Shrine. The Pipes & Drums have had the pride and honor to represent both the Zuhrah Shrine of Minneapolis, as well as our grand philanthropy, the Shriners Hospitals for Children, throughout North America.

The Zuhrah Pipes & Drums perform regularly throughout the Midwest at parades and other civic functions, as well as at weddings and other social engagements. In addition, our competition band routinely competes in the Midwest Shrine Pipe Band Association competition, where we were crowned champions in 1997, as well as Imperial Shrine competitions all over North America.
 

Heroes of '76
Heroes of '76 unit of Minnesota Chapter #25, National Sojourners is an organization of Freemasons who have served or are serving in the Military of the US or its allies.
 

Bob Bayers
Bob, the producer of the 9-11 Tribute Concert, owns the family business Bayers Do it Best Hardware located in Linden Hills just a few blocks from the Lake Harriet Band Shell. If he didn't end up in the hardware business he would have probably been in some area of theater – his second love. Producing the 9-11 Tribute each year is a passion for him. He thanks his understanding family and store employees for their help each summer as the concert is planned. Please plan on attending the 9-11 Tribute each year on September 11th at the Band Shell. —God Bless America

Orchestra Conductor – Manny Laureano
Chorus Conductor – John Hoffacker
Tribute Producer – Bob Bayers

Co-sponsored by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

* an organization of Freemasons who have served or are serving in the Military of the US or its allies (this year's participants TBD)
 
The 9-11 Tribute is the inspiration of it’s Producer Bob Bayers. Bob thanks the hundreds of volunteers for working so hard each year to make this annual event so beautiful. The 9-11 Tribute will take place every September 11th at 7pm at the Lake Harriet Band Shell. Please visit www.our911tribute.com to view information on this and previous years concerts. - God Bless America!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MUSICIANS AND VOCALISTS FOR 2008