2007 Concert Information

For the 5th year in a row our neighbors Frank Vascellaro and Amelia Santaniello will serve as hosts for the event!

Manny Laureano
Manny began his musical studies in the New York City public school system and received his Bachelor of Music Degree from the Juilliard School in 1977. He was appointed principal trumpet of the Seattle Symphony, a post he held for four years before serving in his current position as principal trumpet with the Minnesota Orchestra. As a conductor, he has worked with a variety of ensembles, ranging from having been Music Director of the Calhoun-Isles Community Band to a guest stint with the Minnesota Orchestra. He has been in demand as clinician for young orchestras throughout the state. In 2002, Manny and Claudette were invited to guest-conduct the National Suzuki Youth Orchestra Festival Orchestra and were invited to serve again in 2004. Manny has served as Co-Artistic Director of the Minnesota Youth Symphonies since 1988, conducts the MYS Symphony Orchestra, and is the brass and woodwind coach for the MYS Repertory Orchestra. He has commissioned many works from local composers over his tenure at MYS. Manny was appointed Assistant Conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra for the 2005-2006 seasons and still serves as a cover conductor and an occasional conductor for the orchestra's Young Person's concerts.

John Hoffacker
Internationally renowned as a conductor of intelligent and passionate performances, John Hoffacker received a doctorate degree in conducting at the Eastman School in Rochester, New York. For eleven years he led one of New England's pre-eminent chamber choruses, Cantemus, and was associate conductor of the Nashua (NH) Symphony Orchestra. Since moving to Minnesota in 2004 he has founded and conducts the Mississippi Valley Chorale and Chorus Polaris, serves as Director of Music at the Church of the Epiphany in Plymouth, and sings professionally as tenor soloist with orchestras and in the Minnesota Chorale. At the University of Minnesota he teaches Score Study and Choral Literature.
 

Carl Schroeder
Minneapolis composer Carl Schroeder (b. 1982) is a graduate of St. Olaf College and Minneapolis Southwest High School. In December 2001 he wrote "Christine's Lullaby," an elegy for orchestra dedicated to Christine Lee Hanson, the youngest victim of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. We performed "Christine's Lullaby" at the 2003 9-11 Tribute concert. He also composed a new piece entitled "The Willing," which we performed at the 2005 9-11 Tribute Concert.

Shelley Hanson
Shelley Hanson's compositions have been performed throughout the United States, and in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Also a record producer, clarinetist, and conductor, she and her band, Klezmer and All That Jazz, have performed her concerto for klezmer band and orchestra with The Minnesota Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, and many other groups. In 1999, Minnesota Youth Symphonies (MYS) commissioned her suite Islas y Montanas (Islands and Mountains), movements of which have been performed by major symphonies such as the North Carolina Symphony and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. She received a Ph.D. in Performance, Music Theory, and Music Literature from Michigan State University. She is currently clarinet instructor at Macalester College. Her Master's degree in the Woodwind Specialist program involved her studying and performing on each of the orchestral woodwind instruments. Shelley joined the MYS staff in 2002.
 

The Zuhrah Pipes & Drums
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.
 

Heroes of '76
Heroes of '76 unit of Minnesota Chapter #25, National Sojourners is an organization of Freemasons who have served or are serving in the Military of the US or its allies.
 

Bob Bayers
Bob, the 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

Orchestra Conductor – Manny Laureano
Chorus Conductor – John Hoffacker
Tribute Producer – Bob Bayers

Co-sponsored by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

* an organization of Freemasons who have served or are serving in the Military of the US or its allies Don Bauman - Presenter, with: Herm Brihn, Ron Campbell, Elden Larson, Jay Lietzow, Bob Selden, Dale Seubert, Fred Vihovde.
 
This years concert is dedicated to the memory of Max Bayers. Max was the father of 9-11 Tribute Producer Bob Bayers who passed away on 5/18/2007 at age 91. Thank you Dad for all you did. I love you. Bob
 
The 9-11 Tribute is the inspiration of it’s Producer Bob Bayers. Bob thanks the hundreds of volunteers for working so hard each year to make this annual event so beautiful. The 9-11 Tribute will take place every September 11th at 7pm at the Lake Harriet Band Shell. Please visit www.our911tribute.com to view information on this and previous years concerts. - God Bless America!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MUSICIANS AND VOCALISTS FOR 2007