CLARENCE HIGH SCHOOL WIND ENSEMBLE

The Clarence Wind Ensemble is the premier wind band of the district. The Ensemble performs a wide range of demanding repertoire from original works to quality transcriptions that expose the Ensemble and our audiences to great compositions of different eras. Membership in the Ensemble is by annual audition. The Ensemble maintains a very active performance calendar within the community, New York State, and the nation. The Ensemble has performed twice at the Midwest Band Clinic, the Mid-East Instrumental Conference, the MENC National Conference, the NYSBDA Symposium, and five times at the NYSSMA Winter Conference.

Since the 1960’s, the Clarence Wind Ensemble has maintained a tradition of working with guest artists. In the past seven years, the artists include composers: Warren Benson, David Gluck, David Maslanka, Ron Nelson, Michael Pratt, and Persis Vehar; conductors: Frank Battisti, Harry Begian, Frederick Fennell, Donald Hunsberger, Tim Lautzenheizer, Edward Lisk, Anthony Maiello, Jeffrey Renshaw, Mark Scatterday, John Whitwell, and Rodney Winther; soloists: Jim Akins, Mary Karen Clardy, Mark Fisher, Alex Jokipii, Peter Karau, Alice Lenaghan, Jim Pyne, Donald Sinta, Brad Wong, Central Michigan University Percussion Ensemble, Eastman Horn Choir, Rhythm & Brass, and Atlantic Brass.

The Clarence Wind Ensemble has also commissioned and premiered many new works for wind ensemble. Most recently, Persis Vehar’s Bright Phoenix Ascending (2003), Warren Benson’s Still Dancing (2002), David Gluck’s Bailamos (2002), and Ron Nelson’s Night Song, Homage to Howard Hanson (1998).

WILLIAM EICHER

William Eicher is presently in his ninth year of teaching at Clarence Central High School where he serves as conductor of the Wind Ensemble.  His duties also include teaching woodwind lessons and directing the Jazz Ensemble and Pit Orchestra, as well as teaching beginning woodwinds at Ledgeview Elementary.  Prior to his appointment at Clarence, he taught for eleven years in Plainwell, Michigan.

Mr. Eicher holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Central Michigan University and a Master of Music Degree from Western Michigan University.  He has studied conducting with Jeffrey Renshaw, John Williamson, and Craig Arnold.  Mr. Eicher was honored in 2003 by School Band & Orchestra magazine as one of the “50 Directors Who Make a Difference”, received a National Band Associations Citation of Excellence, and in 1994 with the Plainwell Community Schools Award of Merit.

During his tenure in Plainwell, an annual Composer’s Symposium was established in 1994.  In 1996, the symposium included the commissioning and world premier of Warren Benson’s A Gift from Cordoba.  This program was recognized by Meet The Composer of New York as a model for other schools to follow.  In 1998, a similar program was established in which Mr. Eicher and the Clarence Wind Ensemble premiered Night Song:  Homage to Howard Hanson for Euphonium and Wind Ensemble by Ron Nelson. Mr. Eicher and the Clarence Wind Ensemble has also premiered Persis Vehar’s Bright Phoenix Ascending (2003), Warren Benson’s Still Dancing (2002) and David Gluck’s Bailamos (2002).

Under Mr. Eicher’s direction, the Clarence Wind Ensemble has performed at the 57th Annual Midwest Clinic-2003, the New York State School Board Association’s 2001 Annual Convention and the 1999 NYSSMA Winter Conference. He has also presented a clinic on repertoire at the 2000 NYSSMA Winter Conference.

Mr. Eicher is a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, the National Band Association, College Band Directors National Association, Music Educators National Conference, World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, New York State School Music Association, New York School Band Directors Association, and the Erie County Music Educators Association.