Easter Brass/percussion at St Marks Episcopal Cathedral Easter Sunday 9:45 AM, 2012

Trumpets - Ty Hood and David Densmore

Timpani - Chandler Teague
Horn - Susan Rogers
Trombone - Stephen Thompson
Bass Trombone - Dr. Mark Thompson


Organist and Choirmaster Don Smith

St Marks Episcopal Cathedral

Sounds of Easter Brass at St. Marks Cathedral, April 24, 2011

Searching for the sounds of glorious brass for your Sunday morning Easter service? St Marks Episcopal Cathedral in Shreveport has been highlighting Brass and Timpani with its adult and youth choirs conducted by its Music Minister and organist Don Smith for many years and I have the honor of contracting and playing with these fine professional musicians. The personnel may change from year to year depending on players' family obligations, but the inspired congregation members never fail to crowd around the ensemble for the final Postlude with organ and brass following the benediction to listen to and thank us for our participation.

10 AM service at St Marks - Fairfield at Line

St. Marks musicians

Trumpets - David Densnore and Steve Smitha

Horn - Susan W. Rogers

Tenor Trombone - Dan Vinson

Bass Trombone - David Jones

Timpani - Chandler Teague
Organist - Don Smith

In rehearsal - St Marks choirmaster/organist Donald Smith

Brass and Timpani

L-R Chandler Teague, David Jones, Dan Vinson, Susan Rogers, Steve Smitha, David Densmore

Sounds of Easter at St. Marks Cathedral

St Marks Cathedral Easter Ensemble 2010

Chandler Teague, Timpani - Stephen Thompson, Mark Thompson, Trombone - Susan W. Rogers, Horn - David Densmore, Galindo Rodriguez, Trumpet

Photo of ensemble above by Janis Teague & edited by sjwr

Following many years of tradition St. Marks Cathedral in Shreveport has utilized a Brass ensemble and Timpani to augment its choir and organ at the Sunday morning Easter service. Such a glorious sound it is that many of the congregation at the conclusion of the service gather around the choir loft and spill into the hallway to hear the Vidor Toccata, an anual tradition. Nothing can compare. Afterward in the courtyard the children run around stuffing their baskets with colored eggs filled with candy.

trombonists Mark and Stephen Thompson

Mark Thompson, Stephen Thompson, Galindo Rodriguez, David Densmore -

missing from the photo Organist and Choirmaster Don Smith, Chan Teague and me

the Easter Egg Hunt is in full swing

Baroque Artists of Shreveport at St Marks coming Sunday March 14 3:00 PM

BAROQUE ARTISTS of SHREVEPORT at ST. MARKS March 14, 2010
fourth Concert of the 30th Season

Ensemble Personnel

Soprano - Gale Odom

Violin - Pasha Sabouri, Angela Russell, Daniel Santelices, Samara Humbert

Viola - Adrienne Gabriel

'Cello - Ruth Drummond

Double bass - Christopher Allen

Flute - Sally Horak

Oboe - Theresa Zale Bridges

Harpsichord - Donald Smith, Julius Abrahams

Photographer - Susan W. Rogers

Usually I don't work on more than one series at a time in my blog, but this week-end there are two excellent programs scheduled - for those who love opera, La Boheme on Saturday night and for those who love Baroque music, BAS on Sunday afternoon at St Marks. Or both if you're like me. One I must play - the other I get to see and hear.

From January's BAS concert at Centenary College Hurley School of Music, some photos to get you in the mood for that glorious sound.

Baroque Artists of Shreveport present 2nd performance of the Season 11-22-2009

The Baroque Artists of Shreveport performed at St Marks Cathedral today before a very large and appreciative crowd and with the final number on the program, ushered in the first concert of the coming festive season, excerpts from Handel's Messiah. I'll be adding more commentary as I have time this week.

Principal flutist Sally Horak

Harpisichordists Don Smith and Gay Gross. Smith also played organ

Bass-baritone Horace English

violist Adrienne Gabriel
violinist Angela Russell

mezzo-soprano

Lory Tubbs

Violinist Jennifer Carsillo Butterman

Double Bassist Chris Allen

'Cellist Ruth Drummond

Tenor William Parsons

Soprano Gale Odom

Principal oboist Theresa Bridges and Stewart Wlliams