20th Anniversary Concert

On Saturday, October 20, the Tinley Park Arts Alive! Community Band held their 20th Anniversary Concert at St. Stephen's Church in Tinley Park. Celebrating the music and memories of the past 20 years, the concert featured the Concert Band and Jazz Band under the direction of all three of the Band's conductors, (from left to right) Stephen J. Platko, Michael Katterjohn and Brendan Koch.

The evening began with the world premiere of Fanfare for an Uncommon Band by Stephen Platko, written exclusively for the Band for the 20th Anniversary. The rest of the concert selections came from notable first concerts or favorites of the band members. The first half also included:

Olympic Fanfare and Theme by John Williams, arranged by Jim Curnow
People Who Live in Glass Houses by John Philip Sousa
1. Champaignes
3. Whiskies
4. Convention of the Cordials
His Honor by Henry Fillmore
Shenandoah by Frank Ticheli
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars by Stephen J. Platko

The band then announced Pam Pytko and Brian McFadyen as the co-winners of the first-ever Stephen J. Platko Award, presented for outstanding service and dedication to the band.

The Arts Alive! Jazz Band played the next part of the concert, with two favorite numbers:

Route 66 by Bobby Troup, arranged by Bob Lowden
St. Louis Blues by W.C. Handy, arranged by Andy Clark

The Concert Band returned for a second half starting with:

Folk Song Suite by Ralph Vaughan Williams
1. Seventeen Come Sunday
2. Intermezzo – My Bonny Boy
3. Folk Songs From Somerset
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine by John Philip Sousa

Next was a performance of And God Summoned His Tubae by Stephen J. Platko. Originally composed for and dedicated to the memory of two young band members, Tom Liska and Eric Healy, it was performed in tribute to all the Band's family and friends lost over the years.

The concert finished with these selections:

Of Sailors and Whales by W.Francis McBeth
1. Ishmael
4. Ahab
Prelude, Siciliano and Rondo by Malcolm Arnold, arranged by John Paynter

Finally, former members were invited to sit in with the Band for an encore of John Phillip Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever.

Thanks to St. Stephen's, the Tinley Park-Park District, Evon's Trophies, Mike Katterjohn and Stephen Platko, and all of the friends and families who have supported the Band for the past 20 years!

Now enjoy some more scenes from our 20th Anniversary Concert.