From the BOWLING GREEN AREA COMMUNITY BAND
More than two hundred adult musicians on stage, a guest conductor from the United State Marine Corps Band, “The President’s Own”, a nationally- known soloist and a mayoral proclamation will be some of the highlights on Saturday, May 6, at 7 p.m. as the Bowling Green Area Community Band celebrates in grand style for its 10th anniversary.
The Defiance College Community Band, the North Coast Concert Band and the Bowling Green Area Community Concert Band will perform separately and in combination for the special event, in the Bowling Green Schools’ Performing Arts Center. The guest conductor, Captain Ryan Nowlin, USMC, will lead each band in one of his own compositions.
Capt. Nowlin has significant ties to northwest Ohio, as he graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education and Masters degree from Bowling Green State University. His student teaching was completed at Defiance City Schools, where he was mentored by the late Vince Polce, Kathy Booth and Scott Rogers. The latter two are the current Defiance College Community Band directors.
Capt. Nowlin is the assistant director of “The President’s Own”, United States Marine Band, one of the four premier military bands stationed in Washington, D.C.
Starting in 2010, as a staff arranger, Capt. Nowlin was commissioned a first lieutenant in 2014, promoting to his current rank in 2016. He has arranged and composed a variety of music for the Marine Band, as well as many works for school bands.
Among his duties with the Marine Band, Capt. Nowlin has collaborated with singers Kelly Clarkson and Jordin Sparks, who performed a Nowlin setting of “The Star Spangled Banner” for the second inauguration of President Barack Obama. In addition of writing and arranging music, Capt. Nowlin conducts the Marine Band and Chamber Orchestra in many concerts in the DC area and on national tours. He has served as a producer for Marine Band recordings since 2014.
On the May 6 concerts, several Nowlin original works and arrangements will be offered, including “As We Forgive” (Defiance Concert Band), “Oh Henry” (North Coast), “Let Freedom Ring” and “Impression” (BGACB). Capt. Nowlin will conduct all of his compositions.
The BGACB, under the baton of Thomas R. Headley and Catherine Lewis, will welcome guest horn soloist Dr. Amy Horn, recently retired after almost 30 years with the Marine Corps Band. Dr. Horn was a student of Ms. Lewis at Fremont St. Joseph Central Catholic High School, before attending BGSU. Ms. Lewis will conduct Dr. Horn’s solo with the BGACB, a hauntingly programmatic work Hunter’s Moon, by Gilbert Vintner.
Always in demand as a performer, Dr. Horn recently won the third horn position in the Roanoke Symphony; she also has appointments to the faculties of George Mason University and The Washington Conservatory of Music.
In addition to Capt. Nowlin’s selections, the concert features a broad spectrum of American musical styles, including Louis Prima’s swing classic “Sing, Sing, Sing” and “Travelin’ Music,” a new setting of the folk tune, “The Arkansas Traveler.”
John Kustec, conductor of the North Coast ensemble, with lead them in “The Red Covered Bridge.” Defiance College Community Band will open the concert with “The Star Spangled Banner.”
For the grand finale Capt. Nowlin will conduct more than 200 musicians in two patriotic selections. Our national march, John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.” And “The Armed Forces Salute” will close the evening.
