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Down East Brass

Rangeley Friends of the Arts has coordinated a joint venture with The Oquossoc Lady and Loon Lodge to bring the talented Downeast Brass to Rangeley for a unique evening on Tuesday, August 16^th.  Prior to arriving at the Loon Lodge dock aboard the historic boat (The Oquossoc Lady) for an 8:15 PM public concert, the brass quintet will stop at several private parties along the lake shore. Tickets ($10) for the 45 minute presentation of “Music From The Lake”, on the lawn of Loon Lodge are available at the Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce office on 6 Park Road or 864-5364.  Bring your chair or blanket and enjoy a gorgeous Rangeley sunset while listening to an evening of beautiful music.  Make reservations for an early dinner at Loon Lodge (865-5666) or just come for the concert at 8:15 PM; a cash bar will be available.

The Downeast Brass is comprised of five highly experienced musicians from Southern and Central Maine. They enjoy playing a wide range of styles, from classical to Dixieland, and from parades to wedding ceremonies. As music educators, they seek to reach audiences of all ages with original and entertaining programming.

Trumpeter Dwight Tibbetts recieved a Bachelor of Music degree in music education from the University of Southern Maine. He has his Masters in Music from the American Band College in Ashland, Oregon. He was a recipient of the Willie Maiden Award for excellence in composition and arranging. Dwight has taught instrumental music in grades five through twelve for thirty years in Augusta, Maine. He has performed throughout Maine, most recently with the Manchester Brass Quintet.  Also an accomplished pianist, Dwight arranges most of the music performed by the Downeast Brass.

Andy Forster has been an instrumental music teacher in the Messalonskee School District for eighteen years. He received his B.M. in Music Education from the University of New Hampshire and his M.M. in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Massachusetts. Mr. Forster has studied trumpet with John Foss, Robert Stibler, Walter Chesnut and Trent Austin. His conducting teachers include Stanley Hettinger, Malcolm Rowell, and Mark Russel Smith. His professional performing experience includes performances with the Downeast Brass Quintet, the UMF Wind Ensemble, the UMF Orchestra, the Bates College Orchestra, the Colby College Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble, the Al Corey Jazz Orchestra, the Brian Nadeau Big Band, the Mount Washington Hotel Jazz Orchestra, the Mayflower Hill Brass Quintet, the Brass Maineiacs, and numerous musical theater productions.

Mike Peterson teaches instrumental music in the Messalonskee School District. He received his B.M. in Music Education from the University of Maine, and his B.A. in Psychology from the State University of New York at New Paltz. He has studied trombone with Fred Heath, Hal Janks, and Fred “Moe” Snyder.

Mike was also the primary music director for the Waterville Opera House from January of 2005 through April of 2008, and was a guest music director at Colby College in January of 2007. In addition to the Downeast Brass, Mike performs with the Good-Time Sound barbershop quartet. He resides in Oakland with his wife, Amy, and their daughter, Rosemary.

Sidecar

Sidecar Heroes is a six-man a cappella band. They will be performing at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Rangeley on July 14^th at 7PM. The Sidecar Heroes perform function band repertoire using the cheapest instruments which they could find… their voices.  Six men, six unique instruments, all combining to create the tight harmonies and rockin’ rhythms which comprise Sidecar Heroes eclectic repertoire.  They’ve got Rock, they’ve got Doo Wop, and they’ve got Motown and Funk.  No genre is safe from their ever-searching arrangers.  Sidecar Heroes is based out of Southern Maine and currently performs all over Maine and New Hampshire.

Jason Paquette (tenor) has been singing a cappella music for the past seven years.  Jason grew up in Ellsworth, Maine.  He started piano lessons in the second grade.  Both his parents are music teachers.  It was almost a given that this child would be musically talented.  He has a music degree from the University of Maine and is currently the Chorus teacher at Morse High School in Bath.

Mark Rowe (baritone) began his a cappella career singing In the Still of the Night and Uptown Girl in a vocal quartet in high school.   After a brief stint studying computer science, Mark switched majors and studied classical voice at the University of Southern Maine.  Many groups and many years later, he now finds himself with Sidecar Heroes where he sings baritone and arranges.

Dennis Boyd Jr. is excited to be a part of Sidecar Heroes. Having sung previously with the Maine Steiners and Audiologic, Dennis is excited to be once again singing bass for an a cappella group. Dennis holds a BM degree from the University of Maine and is currently the director of choirs at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School and Middle School and formerly worked at Bonny Eagle High School. Dennis loves to go out on the road and travel with his friends.

Lee Hunter grew up in rural central Maine on a farm where there was nothing to do but toss cows and play music. Singing and performing through his childhood years and into college, he dipped into virtually every genre; from barbershop to classical to contemporary. Equipped with a music minor and public relations degree, he joined Sidecar Heroes in 2008 and has been spitting beats for them ever since.

Devan Porter (tenor) is really glad to be singing a cappella again! Raised in a house with no musicians, it wasn’t until high school that Devan got into music by singing in his high school chamber singers and teaching himself guitar. His first and only a cappella experience before Sidecar Heroes was with the Maine Steiners(’07-’08). Other than work and music, Devan likes to snowboard, hike, play basketball, and always does his best to stay out of trouble.

Shawn Fitzgerald was born a poor black child.  At around 7 or 8 years of age, he heard someone really good sing, thought to himself, ‘hey, I could probably do that’, and has been doing so ever since.  He hopes one day to be James Bond, or to see a real life zombie apocalypse, preferably both.

With their many years of performing experience coupled with some exciting arrangements, Sidecar Heroes offers an exciting and entertaining show that everyone will enjoy.  Tickets ($15) are available at the Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce 207-864-5364.

RFA Annual Street Dance will be held on Main Street Tuesday, July 19, 6:30—10 PM.  Downtown Rangeley becomes a dance floor—Main Street is closed to traffic.  Joe Montimurro and Scott Iverson & Friends will be featured.  Music will include classic Rock and Roll, Beatles, Mamas & the Papas and Rolling Stones.  All ages are encouraged to come and dance the night away

RFA DIVA Show will be held July 27, 28, 29 at 7:30PM at Saddleback Base Lodge.  Tickets are on sale now at the Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce at 6 Park Road.  New location with great sunset views, new performers, and new songs will surely be a show not to be missed.  The evening will have numbers that will make you smile, laugh, sing-a-long and surely a few surprises.

Calling all vocalists…the RFA Summer DIVA Auditions will be held June 19, 4-6 PM at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Rangeley.  The theme for this year’s show will be Award Winning Divas! Do you enjoy singing?  Performing?  Having Fun?  Come join some veterans and some new comers to the DIVA Production.

If you are interesting in participating, you will need to audition. Please email- moozicteacher@hotmail.com to discuss song options/ideas.   This very popular production will be held at the Saddleback Mountain Lodge on July 27, 28, 29.