Sousapalooza!

[Kingfan]

Since 2011, Make Music Chicago has pioneered the “Sousapalooza” – an invitation for hundreds of brass, wind, and percussion players to come together and sightread the music of The March King, John Philip Sousa. It has spread to Anchorage, Fullerton, Iowa City, Hartford, Wichita, and Salem. I'm really happy to hear about the first Sousapalooza in Cleveland, Ohio this year on June 21. Yes, I'm going!

http://www.makemusicday.org/national-pr ... sapalooza/

[Kingfan]

OK, crickets... How about I add that I found on the play list a Fillmore march? What's up with that?????

[BGuttman]

Nothing wrong with Fillmore or Carl King marches. Staples of the Screamer genre.

There's no Sousapalooza here in metro Boston so I lost interest in the thread.

Let us know how it was.

[kingsk1117]

I'm going to the Chicago event. We'll see how it is and report back.

[greenbean]

Well, I would love to go with you guys! I will even bring my SOUZA-phone. From San Francisco, it is a straight shot across the I-80. Only 36 hours of driving. I will get started now...

[Kingfan]

Nothing wrong with Fillmore or Carl King marches. Staples of the Screamer genre.

There's no Sousapalooza here in metro Boston so I lost interest in the thread.

Let us know how it was.

Hartford, Connecticut?

[Kingfan]

Well, I would love to go with you guys! I will even bring my SOUZA-phone. From San Francisco, it is a straight shot across the I-80. Only 36 hours of driving. I will get started now...

The Fullerton event is only 6 or 7 hours from you. What's the problem?????

[Kingfan]

Nothing wrong with Fillmore or Carl King marches. Staples of the Screamer genre.

There's no Sousapalooza here in metro Boston so I lost interest in the thread.

Let us know how it was.

True, nothing wrong with the other composer's marches. However, it is billed Sousapalooza not Marchapalooza.

Hartford, Connecticut?

[Kingfan]

OK, gang, had a blast! About 60 musicians showed up to the Cleveland, Ohio event. I was surprised how polished a bunch of people who had never played together and were sight reading with no rehearsal sounded. The conductor threw Fillmore's "Rolling Thunder" at us at about 124 bpm and asked the trombones if we thought we could handle it. We did! I made some new friends. If you live near one of the Sousapalooza locations, plan on going next year! If not, start your own in your city (Green Bean, are you listening???)

[greenbean]

Wow, what a turnout! Sounds like a great time. It should be doable to put one of these together in the Bay Area - there are LOTS of musicians here! We just need to find someone to make it happen...

[JohnL]

There were about 30 players for the event in Fullerton.

[kingsk1117]

The Chicago event had the Navy Band Great Lakes as the base unit (18 including the conductor) plus about another 20 from the public. It sounded great, what with no rehearsal and sight reading most of the charts. Good balance across all the sections, with 5 trombones. Played outside Wrigley field shortly after a game let out, but the weather was cloudy, cool, and blustery. The organizers, Make Music Chicago, said they had about 125 events at over 70 locations across the city that day as part of the International Make Music Day. Will definitely attend next year if schedule permits.

[kingsk1117]

It should be doable to put one of these together in the Bay Area

It seems like each participating city has a "Make Music [city name}" organization. But according to the MakeMusicDay.org website, California only has organizations in Fullerton, Long Beach, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Jose. Sounds like time for someone in the Bay Area to start one. And then Sousapalooza would probably be just one of the events on that day.

[kingsk1117]

And Sousapalooza is followed next week (Friday, June 28) by the Goodman Theater in Chicago promoting their upcoming production of "The Music Man" with volunteer trombonists marching through downtown Chicago to Daley Plaza playing, what else, "76 Trombones". See their Facebook post at Free commemorative T-shirt too.