WT Band Alumni Spotlight: Paul Worosello

Paul Worosello (BMEd ’75 & MM’76) retired in 2013 from Klein Forest High School after a 37 career, all spent at the high school level except for the first year. For the past thirteen years he has been the director of the Woodlands Concert Band, an adult community band located in Harris County north of Houston, TX. On June 1 they traveled to Carrollton, TX and gave a joint concert with the Carrollton Wind Symphony, directed by Jim McDaniel. Guest conductor, Dr. Richard Crain led, the Woodlands Concert Band on Handel on the Strand by Percy Grainger. Guest conductor John Whitwell led to Carrollton Wind Symphony on Amazing Grace by Percy Grainger, a piece he had commissioned while at Michigan State University in memory of his father. The concert concluded with the Finale to the Kalinnikov Symphony No. 1, with the brass from the Woodlands Concert Band providing the antiphonal brass parts from the back of the auditorium.

Of special note on the concert was the World Premier of Woodlands Overture by Brian Balmages. These are the program notes from the composer:

Woodlands Overture was commissioned by Susan Worosello and the Woodlands Concert Band. Woodlands Overture was gifted to conductor Paul Worosello as a surprise for his 70th birthday. This was a special commission for me as the Worosellos are good friends and the WCB was the very first group I conducted as pandemic restrictions began to be lifted. This group literally brought me back.

While not programmatic, this piece is a celebration of the concert band and is designed to showcase every section of the ensemble. After an exciting and technical opening featuring the entire group, the piece then features the brass section in a rhythmic, harmonically vibrant passage. This leads to a beautiful, lyrical section showcasing the woodwinds. There are several percussion interludes throughout the work, including a transition that extends to the winds as the music comes full circle, back to the opening fanfare with some added harmonic development.

It is my hope that every musician that performs this piece will feel the joy I had when writing it, which extends to Paul’s joy when the ensemble surprised him with the score at the end of a rehearsal. Enjoy!

The music can be heard here: