2006 Concert Information

View a slide show of the 2006 event

Once again this year our neighbors Frank Vascellaro and Amelia Santaniello served as hosts for the event!

Dr. Jeffrey Stirling conducted the 9-11 Tribute Orchestra for the third year. Dr. Stirling lives in the Twin Cities and is Interim Director of Orchestral Studies at the University of Minnesota. He also conducts the Northeast Orchestra, Linden Hills Chamber Orchestra, Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies Philharmonic and the Kenwood Symphony Orchestra. This season Stirling will guest conduct the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra and the Saint Paul Civic Symphony.

Stirling has been a Cover Conductor for the Minnesota Orchestra and appeared in concerts with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. In recent seasons he has been a Guest Conductor with the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra and the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra in Maine.

Stirling holds degrees from Yale and Northwestern University, and pursued advanced training in Paris, France under the auspices of the Fondation des Etats-Unis. He has also studied at the Tanglewood Festival, Salzburg Summer Academy and the Fontainebleau School. In 2001 Stirling was chosen by Leonard Slatkin to take part in the National Conducting Institute with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D. C.

In addition to his professional activities, Dr. Stirling has directed the orchestra programs at Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Cloud State University, Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and University of Northern Iowa. He also has been a guest instructor for the Chamber Music Association of the University of Lausanne in Switzerland.

Shari Speer conducted the 9-11 Tribute Chorus. Ms. Speer is Professor of Voice at Concordia University in St. Paul, where she teaches private voice, class voice, diction, opera workshop and conducts the Jubilate Choir.

Also an active performer, Ms. Speer is soprano soloist at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis and soprano section leader with the Minnesota Chorale, appearing with them in performances of major choral works with the Minnesota Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Both groups regularly call upon her expertise in vocal teaching and choral preparation.

She has appeared as soprano soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra, Des Moines Symphony, Kenwood Orchestra, Oratorio Society of Minnesota, Quad City Mozart Festival, Nashville Symphony, Westminster Summer Sing, and St. Paul Schubert Club, and Thursday Musical among others. In addition to her interpretation of the classical vocal and choral repertoire, Ms. Speer is also known for her idiomatic performances of "Magic Lantern Illustrated Song Slides."

Prof. Speer holds degrees in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey, and in Music Education and Conducting from Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois. She has served on the voice faculties of Westminster Conservatory, Luther College, Augustana College, and Gustavus Adolphus College and is the current president of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS).

The Zuhrah Pipes & Drums began its rich history in 1959, when it was chartered as an active unit of the Zuhrah Shrine. The Pipes & Drums have had the pride and honor to represent both the Zuhrah Shrine of Minneapolis, as well as our grand philanthropy, the Shriners Hospitals for Children, throughout North America.

The Zuhrah Pipes & Drums perform regularly throughout the Midwest at parades and other civic functions, as well as at weddings and other social engagements. In addition, our competition band routinely competes in the Midwest Shrine Pipe Band Association competition, where we were crowned champions in 1997, as well as Imperial Shrine competitions all over North America.

Bob Bayers, producer of the 9-11 Tribute Concert owns the family business Bayers Do it Best Hardware located in Linden Hills just a few blocks from the Lake Harriet Band Shell. If he didn't end up in the hardware business he would have probably been in some area of theater – his second love. Producing the 9-11 Tribute each year is a passion for him. He thanks his understanding family and store employees for their help each summer as the concert is planned. Please plan on attending the 9-11 Tribute each year on September 11th at the Band Shell. —God Bless America

2006 Concert Program
Lake Harriet Bandshell – Monday, September 11, 2006 7:00 P. M.

The 9-11 Tribute Producer Bob Bayers thanks all of the volunteers for working so hard to make this annual event so beautiful. This concert will take place each year on September 11th at 7pm at the Lake Harriet Band Shell. Please visit www.our911tribute.com to view this and pervious years concert information.
— God Bless America

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MUSICIANS AND VOCALISTS FOR 2006

• 2005 Concert Information

• 2004 Concert Information

• 2003 Concert Information

• 2002 Concert Information