Gala 50th Anniversary Celebration

William F. Rayer, Composer

William F. Rayer is a retired music teacher having taught music for 28 years in the Mayfield School System. His undergraduate degree is a B.A. in Music Education from Kent State University. He has a Master of Arts degree in Music Composition from Cleveland State University. He is a member of the Cleveland Composer’s Guild. He has written many compositions which have been performed by area orchestras and bands including the Ohio Chamber Orchestra, Lakeland Civic Band, Lakeland Civic Orchestra as well as local high schools and junior high schools. In the spring of 2007 the Lakeland Civic Orchestra premiered his work Pluto, Requiem For A Dead Planet which was inspired by a Newsweek article of the same name. He recently finished a commissioned work titled Celebration Overture for Symphony West Orchestra commemorating the orchestra’s 50th anniversary. He is an active member of ASCAP. He performs regularly as the principal trumpet of the Lorain Civic Orchestra. In the past he has performed with the Lakeland Jazz Band, Lakeland Concert Band, and the Lakeland Civic Orchestra. He performs with the Broadale Brass Sextet led by John Simna. He has completed two novels with accompanying compact discs of original music written by him for the novels called The Reach Beyond Tomorrow which is currently published by Two Harbors Publishing Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota and The Legacy of Pnomos available at Lulu.com.

Program Notes

Casey Kriechbaum, the arranger of Prelude to Carmen, was a founding member of Symphony West; he played first trumpet. Each year in his memory, the Kriechbaum family awards a scholarship to a N.O.H.S. band or orchestra senior who will major in music at college.

Our thanks to Symphony West cellist Robert Faud for donating Leroy Anderson’s The First Day of Spring to the Orchestra’s library. Bob’s mother, Miriam Faud (also a cellist), was a member of Symphony West for many years in the 1980s.

Gold is the traditional 50th anniversary gift. Music Director Victoria Marra selected Lehar’s Gold and Silver Waltzes for our celebratory program and donated the music to the orchestra’s library.

Trombonist Karl Beckman is the son of founding member Roberta Beckman. Symphony West thanks the Beckman Family for sponsoring this evening’s concert.