Norwich University Concert Band Coming to Gifford Park Sept. 25

Posted on September 18, 2012 by giffordmedicalcenter

RANDOLPH – The nation’s oldest collegiate band, the Norwich University Concert Band, will perform at the park at Gifford Medical Center on Sept. 25 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

The free concert, titled “Autumn in the Park,” will be led by conductor Lt. Col. Todd Edwards with a flute solo, “Concertino for Flute,” featuring Audrey Seaman.

Music at Norwich University in Northfield has been a significant part of the curriculum since its founding in 1819. With the arrival of William Baylay, the first professor of instrumental music, in 1823, the band became all-brass and an integral part of the daily life of cadets.

Today, the band is a full instrumentation band with woodwinds, brass and percussion, and it continues to perform in support of the Corps of Cadets at all formations, reviews and special parades. The band has performed for the inauguration of several U.S. presidents, including John Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, as well as for parades and concerts throughout Vermont and New England.

Conductor Lt. Col. Edwards spent nearly 25 years in the U.S. Air Force Band program, serving as a trombonist and vocalist as well as an audio engineer and lighting designer, after enlisting at age 18.

He received the Air Force Public Affairs Awards for Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year in 2001 for designing and executing a seven-band deployment throughout Europe in 48 hours supporting Operation Allied Force, including a short concert aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt – a first for Air Force Bands while in an active combat zone.

Because of his vast deployment expertise, he was selected by the Pentagon to advance the first-ever band deployments in direct support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, during combat operations. Being the first bandsman on the ground in April of 2004, he led bands traveling to seven bases in Iraq, Qatar and Afghanistan and later led a second deployment group to perform additional shows in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Djibouti.

In addition to performing before U.S. presidents, he has played before several heads of state, including Queen Elizabeth II.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Valley Bowl of Randolph will be onsite with its food truck for anyone wanting to purchase dinner.

Bring a blanket or a lawn chair. The Gifford park is south of the hospital, before the Thrift Shop, at 44 S. Main St. (Route 12) in Randolph. Ample parking is available.

The concert is weather dependent. If the weather is questionable, visit Gifford’s Web site, www.giffordmed.org, for updates.

Photos from Our Free Community Concert “An Evening with Friends”

Posted on August 31, 2012 by giffordmedicalcenter

Enjoy these photos from our last evening’s free community concert called “An Evening with Friends”. For more photos, go to our Facebook page.

The next concert is Sept. 11 from 6:30-8 p.m. featuring The Dave Keller Band.

Diamonds in the Rough’s Claudette Goad (left), Greg McConnell (center) and Mike Berry (right)

Friends having fun

Diamonds in the Rough’s Claudette Goad

Free spirit

Diamonds in the Rough plays and sings with Mood Stabilizers

Enjoying a quiet summer evening

Diamonds in the Rough’s Greg McConnell

The Mood Stabilizers’ Dr. Joe Pelletier

The Mood Stabilizers’ Sanie Bly

Sentimental moment

The Mood Stabilizers’ Thom Goodwin

The Mood Stabilizers’ Dr. Joe Pelletier

Diamonds in the Rough’s Mike Berry

The Mood Stabilizers’ Thom Goodwin (left), Sanie Bly (center) and Dr. Joe Pelletier (right)

The Dave Keller Band Coming to Gifford Park

Posted on August 24, 2012 by giffordmedicalcenter

Original blues and soul band renowned throughout Northeast

RANDOLPH – The Dave Keller Band comes to the Gifford Medical Center Park on Sept. 11 for a free concert thanks to the generosity of the Gifford Auxiliary.

A Vermont resident, Dave Keller is known as one of the finest soul and blues men of his generation. He is the 2012 winner of the Best Self-Produced CD award at the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn.

In 2009, after being discovered by legendary guitarist Ronnie Earl, Keller appeared as a singer and co-writer on Earl’s BMA-nominated CD, “Living In the Light.” Next, blues and soul fans got to hear Keller with his own band on his all-original critically-acclaimed release “Play for Love” (September 2009).

Then in October 2011, Keller released his latest gem: “Where I’m Coming From” – a “deep soul” record produced by Bob Perry of Wu-Tang Clan, 50 Center, Brian McNight and Foxy Brown fame. In addition to winning the IBC award, the CD reached No. 2 on B.B. King’s Bluesville on Sirius/XM radio for May 2012.

This success follows decades perfecting his craft. Keller has been performing for 20 years across the Northeast at everything from prison gymnasiums to major tours, getting audiences out of their seats with deep soul singing, gritty guitar licks and what Keller calls his “super-tight, super-funky band.”

Originally from Massachusetts, Keller picked up guitar in his teens and started his own band in 1988. Keller moved to Boston, performing regularly but tiring of city life. He moved to rural Washington state and then to Vermont in 1993.

By 1993, Keller’s singing and playing had taken on a new depth. He began playing solo shows and by 1996 had put together a band, releasing multiple CDs.

Today, Keller keeps up a heavy performance, touring with band mates Ira Friedman on Hammond organ, Brett Hoffman on drums and Gary Lotspeich on bass. And now The Dave Keller Band comes to Randolph for a one-time concert sure to please.

The concert is from 6:30-8 p.m. The Gifford park is located between the hospital and the Thrift Shop on South Main Street (Route 12), south of Randolph village. Ample parking is available onsite.

The concert is weather-dependent. If the weather is questionable, check Gifford’s new and improved Web site, www.giffordmed.org, for an update.