Ohlone Community Band

Well, How about May 6th, 7th and 8th?

Once More Into the Breach! One Weekend in May – Three Great Band Concerts at Ohlone College! And Yes – Our Mission Peak Brass Band (MPBB) does play the “official” British-Style Brass Band Instrumentation. No Trumpets nor French Horns here. You need to catch the OCB or OWO to hear us play those instruments.) See you in the Jackson Theater May 6, 7 & 8!

Reminders:

1. Parking is Semester Permit or $4 at one of the Parking Kiosks
2. Tickets available on-line at www.SmithCenter.com or at the Smith Center Box Office
3. All performers and audience members must go through screening at the Smith Center Lobby. Use the posted QR Code and your cell phone camera to get to the Check-In Questions. Proof of Vaccination must be shown.
4. Masks are required at all times in the Ohlone College Buildings.

After almost two years off – The Ohlone College Bands are back in action! All three Bands have been rehearsing since late January in the New Band Room (Room 2317) in the New Music Wing (New Bldg 2 Floor 3) “On the Hill” at Ohlone College in Fremont, California!

Now we are ready to PERFORM again!

Take a Break (Spring Break, that is) and come on Up the Hill to the Gary Soren Smith Center for the Performing Arts and join us in the beautiful Jackson Theater for one, two or all three Concerts by the Ohlone College Band Program (details below).

Reminders:

1. Parking is Semester Permit or $4 at one of the Parking Kiosks
2. Tickets available on-line at www.SmithCenter.com or at the Smith Center Box Office
3. All performers and audience members must go through screening at the Smith Center Lobby. Use the posted QR Code and your cell phone camera to get to the Check-In Questions. Proof of Vaccination must be shown.
4. Masks are required at all times in the Ohlone College Buildings.
5. Please practice distancing in the Theater.

(Check Back Often!)

As more folks complete the free vaccination process while continuing to practice masking and safe distancing – Ohlone College is working on plans  and procedures that are allowing us to start bringing Staff, Faculty and Students back onto both of our Campuses for in-person instruction.

The Ohlone College Bands, which are part of Ohlone College Community Education, are now in the process of preparing for Rehearsals and Performances that will commence once we have the go ahead from the Ohlone Community College District.

Use this link to track progress with getting the Bands back rehearsing & performing at Ohlone College: Community Music Ensembles (ohlone.edu)

And check back here and check our Facebook pages for more details as the new season launch dates firm up for each of our four Bands.

As we say in Music – – Stay Tuned!

While we have been SIP – Work continues on the New Arts Building (New Bldg 2) on the Ohlone College Fremont Campus. As you know – the New Music Wing is the entire 3rd Floor. And for those of us in the Ohlone Bands – the New Band Room (Room 2317) will soon be Our Home!

While there are still punch list items that need to be taken care of before we can all safely gather again – the biggest item that needed to be completed is being taken care of – installing acoustic treatment in the Band Room (2317) and the Instrumental Ensemble Room formerly known as “The Echo Room”.

Here are a few photos taken by our Dean, Chris Warden. Jazz/Rock & Lecture Classes will face the wall with the screen. All Bands (OWO, OCB, MPBB & OTE) will face the “Orange Wall”.

Stay Safe! Stay Healthy! See You All Soon!

Friends – First of All – We hope that You and all of Yours are Staying Strong & Staying Healthy! We will all be back together again on the other side, hopefully finally making music in the New Band Room “On the Hill” at Ohlone College in Fremont, California.

For now – the Ohlone Bands are continuing to meet each week via Zoom. Registered Band Members will receive Invites with the Zoom Link for each Band Session each week. Those not currently registered in one or more of our four Bands through Ohlone College Community Education may still participate in any or all of our remaining sessions this Spring Semester. Simply email me at dansmith@ohlone.edu, tell which sessions or sessions you want to attend, and I will send you each link. That Simple! And we will all be happy to see and hear you with us.

Below is our Lesson Plan for these next few weeks. Some sessions will be interactive listening to Brass Band & Concert Band music. Other sessions will involve presentations and master classes by experts from around the Country.