Every Tuesday evening the halls of the Arts & Humanities Building at CCBC Essex reverberate with the sounds of the Baltimore Symphonic Band. Right now they’re practicing the selections from Psycho, Jaws, Games of Thrones, all for their upcoming Gods and Monsters: In Concert performance, the second of two shows will be this Saturday, February 8 at 2 p.m. in the ARTS Building Theatre at CCBC Catonsville.
Among the 50-member band, Jeff Robinson warms up on his euphonium. He has been a member of the BSB since 1982 when he was an 11th grader in high school. For those who don’t know, a euphonium is a smaller version of a tuba and also known as a tenor tuba. Jeff’s love for music supports his commitment to the band. He says playing with a good group of musicians, and a great conductor (CCBC Music Professor Christopher Wolfe) keeps him grounded. His musical career began with playing the trombone in another concert band. When he joined the BSB he switched to euphonium because they didn’t have someone covering that part. By day, Jeff is a Gas Emergency Tech with BGE.
To the conductor’s left is the clarinet section, where Cynthia Suchanek is the principal clarinet player. When she’s not performing or rehearsing with the BSB, she is teaching music to elementary school children with Baltimore County Public Schools. Cynthia joined the band in 1981 and enjoys the challenge of playing the music the band performs; last year they focused on the music of Bernstein as they celebrated his 100th birthday. Even though she’s been playing for many years, she still has to practice, which is something she readily shares with her elementary music students. In addition to playing clarinet, she serves as the president of the BSB board.
Visit the BSB website,www.baltimoresymphonicband.org and follow them on Facebook, www.facebook.com/Baltimore-Symphonic-Band-318127638396861/
Jump on the Baltimore Symphonic Band wagon! They’re performing Gods and Monsters: In Concert, Saturday, February 8 at 2 p.m. at CCBC Catonsville, Center for the Arts, Theatre. FREE! to all.
Tickets are available in advance by calling the Box Office 443-840-ARTS (2787) and will also be available at the door.
