Event includes musicians from San Benito and other nearby
counties
The Pacific Brass Band will perform its 10th annual fundraiser
for the YMCA Nov. 14, at 2 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church,
2066 San Benito St., in Hollister, with several local musicians
participating.
”
It provides people with scholarships that otherwise would not be
able to take part in summer camps and so on,
”
said Bob Bouchard, a member of Pacific Brass.
Event includes musicians from San Benito and other nearby counties
The Pacific Brass Band will perform its 10th annual fundraiser for the YMCA Nov. 14, at 2 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church, 2066 San Benito St., in Hollister, with several local musicians participating.
“It provides people with scholarships that otherwise would not be able to take part in summer camps and so on,” said Bob Bouchard, a member of Pacific Brass.
The British-style band was founded in 1990 by Gonzalo H. Viales, a former teacher and administrator of North Salinas High School. The band gave its first concert in 1991. It is one of 15 British-style brass bands in the Western United States, according to a press release from member Bouchard. The band plays traditional brass band music, as well as American folk songs, rags, marches and selections from musical theater. The band is comprised of musicians from San Benito, Monterey, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.
Bouchard, a trumpet/cornet player has been with the band since its founding. He has been a member of the Watsonville Community Band for 25 years. He served as a music supervisor and consultant for the San Benito County Office of Education and was superintendent of schools until his retirement, when he formed a 14-piece Big Band. He is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music and the University of Arizona.
He wrote that he “hopes that public performances such as this will serve as a learning experience for young student-musicians and encourage other children to participate in school music programs.”
Joe Ostenson, who served as the music director for the Hollister School District middle schools concert and marching bands, plays the trumpet/cornet in the Pacific Brass Band. He is also part of the Watsonville Community Band and has previously played with the Morgan Hill Wind Symphony. He is a graduate of San Mateo Community College and San Jose State University.
He wrote that “the Pacific Brass is a great organization in which to play, and appreciates the fact that membership is made up of a distinct group of people ranging in age from the early 20s to the mid 80s.”
Bill Crawford is also a trumpet/cornet player, and the newest member of the Pacific Brass Band. He joined a few weeks ago. Crawford is a Hollister native who started playing trumpet in elementary school under Ostenson’s direction. He played in the San Benito High School band as well as the Gavilan College band. Crawford has played in local bands such as the Nightlighters, the Bandoleros and the Gavilan College Jazz Band.
Toni Hunt plays the tenorhorn and has been with the band for eight months, but is a veteran to the local scene. She has been with the Watsonville Community Band for 14 years and is currently serving as section-leader of the percussion section. She has played with the Castroville Players and has worked with San Benito Stage Company. She is a member of the Watsonville Dixieland Band. She studied music in high school and at Hartnell Community College. She continues to put her extensive training to good use as one of the newer members of the Pacific Brass.
Jay Hilgers plays the Flugelhorn. He has been with the band for 10 years and has had extensive training through organized groups as well as private study. After playing in elementary and high school bands, Hilgers continued performing with the Monterey Peninsula Community College and Hartnell Community College bands. He has played in the Watsonville Community Band and the San Benito Stage Company pit orchestra.
Pacific Brass Band 10th
Annual Fundraiser concert
The YMCA of San Benito County presents the 10th annual Pacific Brass benefit concert, “Sounds of Brass,” Nov. 14, at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 2066 San Benito St., in Hollister.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students and free for children 12 and under, with a paid adult. Proceeds benefit the YMCA of San Benito County’s Youth and Family programs.
Tickets are available at Ace Hardware, YMCA of San Benito County, Watsonville Family YMCA, Aromas Water District and DL&G Printing.
For more information, call 831-637-8600 or visit www.centralcoastymca.org.
