SVCB Conductor Samantha Baldwin to Debut on Sunday Oct 22nd Fall Concert
The Schoharie Valley Concert Band (SVCB) is pleased to welcome Samantha Baldwin as its fourth conductor in 40+years. She will be directing the SVCB on its “Fall Concert” to be performed on Sunday October 22nd at 3PM in the Cobleskill-Richmondville HS Auditorium. The performance is open to the general public with free admission for students.
Samantha brings a wealth of talent and experience to the position. Her ties to the SVCB go back to 2002 when she joined the band as a Cobleskill-Richmondville (CRCS) student. She went on to win the Donald Webster Solo Festival sponsored by the SVCB at the 6-8, 9-11, and Senior grade levels. She was instructed at CRCS by three retired band teachers who are current SVCB members, Susan Ginsburg (elementary), John Boyer (middle), and Brian Swanhall (high school).
Samantha graduated Summa Cum Laude from Syracuse University (SU) with a Bachelors in Music Education and a Flute Performance Honors Certificate and was the SU Marching Band Drum Major. She stayed at SU for 2 more years earning Masters Degrees in both Music Education and Instrumental Coaching while also working as a graduate teaching assistant.
Samantha is in her 10th year as a NYS public-school band director. She currently teaches at Shaker High School in the North Colonie CSD in Latham where she directs the 9-10 and 11-12 Symphonic Bands, Marching Band, and Pep Band, and is the music director and pit orchestra conductor for Shaker’s annual spring musical. She is a NYSSMA Solo and Ensemble Adjudicator. Samantha resides in Colonie, where she is a cantor at St. Pius X Church masses and a member of the Pastoral Council.
Conductor Baldwin’s “Fall Concert” includes Broadway, movie, and big band pieces. “Mambo” from Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story” features a syncopated, lively dance rhythm. “Pixar Movie Favorites” arranged by Michael Brown includes themes from Disney’s “You’ve Got a Friend” plus 4 Pixar-Disney movie collaborations. “Big Band Bash” includes 1940 tunes from Stan Kenton, Glenn Miller, Count Basie, and other music legends.
Frank Ticheli’s arrangement of “Loch Lomond” intertwines a second melody from “Danny Boy”. “October” is a contemporary piece which evokes a peaceful musical representation of composer Eric Whitacre’s favorite month. “Flourishes” by William Owens portrays the joy and exuberance of youth by first featuring the brass, then the woodwinds and trumpets with percussion fairy-tale interjections.
Two military marches , Gustav Holst’s “Second Suite in F” movement 4 and Julius Fucik’s “Florentiner March”, and the “On the Hudson March” by Edwin Franko Goldman will round out the program.
The Schoharie Valley Concert Band is open to all area residents including high school and college students. Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings from 7- 9:15 PM. Holiday Concert rehearsals begin on Thursday October 26th at the Cobleskill-Richmondville HS band room. If you would like to join the band, please contact Conductor Samantha Baldwin at svcbconductor@gmail.com.