Members of the SBWS Board spoke about how Conductor Jesus Jacquez nurtured a welcoming and learning-conducive environment. (Photo by Dawn A. Walker)
Dawn A. Walker
SaddleBrooke Winds and Strings (SBWS) held a luncheon in July to honor our beloved conductor Jesus Jacquez. After three wonderful years with SBWS, Jesus is moving on to a music graduate program in Montana (the climate opposite of southern Arizona) starting SBWS in the fall.
The luncheon was held in the HOA TWO Ballroom, and the meal was provided by MountainView Bar and Grill. A lovely cake and cupcakes decorated with a musical theme were provided by Bashas’. Members of the SBWS Board, followed by other members of SBWS, spoke about what working with Jesus and SBWS meant to them and how Jesus provided an environment to grow musically. A crystal commemorative plaque and a cash gift were presented to Jesus, followed by Jesus’ impromptu, heartfelt “thank you” to SBWS for being just what he needed at this stage of his musical journey. Many wet eyes.
Jesus’ final concert with SBWS was July 18 at Holy Hope Church in southwest Tucson. The audience viewed the band and the beautiful mountain landscape through the large windows backing the band. The program highlighted American music from the country’s beginnings through to modern times, with Jesus providing the story behind each piece, enhanced by projected images and Jesus’ zany costumes.
Music performed in An American Celebration and Introspective began with “Inno Olimpico,” the Olympic theme song, which although not composed by an American, has been used since 1896, an Olympics in which Americans were the only athletes not from Greece or Europe, and they won the most gold medals. Flutist Ann Pizzitola, known in SaddleBrooke for her ballroom dancing, soloed on “Nice and Easy” by American composer Lee Adamski. Other pieces featured folk tunes and popular music from Broadway, Phantom of the Opera, and the film Star Wars. Jesus Jacquez will be sorely missed, but SBWS has found a musician conductor, Antonio V. Padilla, to direct SBSW through rehearsals and the upcoming performance in September at DesertView Performing Arts Center.
Antonio is a music student at the University of Arizona, with experience in music education at Catalina Foothills High School (known for its excellent music program), conducting (he attended an intensive conducting workshop in Japan), and performing in several ensembles in Southern Arizona, including two Mariachi groups. He plans on continuing Jesus’ tradition of providing visual displays accompanying music performances.
You won’t want to miss SBWS’s next concert Windows of Imagination featuring works by Ticheli, Williams, Andrew Lloyd Weber, and more.
When: Saturday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m.
Where: Desert View Performing Arts Center
Tickets are $15 and will be available at DVPAC.net.
Watch for SBWS’ winter concert scheduled for Dec. 19!
Interested in joining SBWS? Get information at SaddleBrookeWindsAndStrings.org.