Bonita Springs Concert Band wraps up season May 14

The Bonita Springs Concert Band will present its final concert of the season Sunday, May 14 at 2 p.m. at Riverside Park in Downtown Old Bonita Springs.
Performing with the band will be guest trombonist Rock Ciccarone.
After high school, Rock attended Youngstown State University’s Dana School of Music for two years before transferring to The Berklee College of Music in Boston. After that he joined the Buddy Rich big band in 1982, playing the jazz chair for 6 months before switching over to the electric bass chair for another 6 months. He then left the band and eventually joined and toured with the Artie Shaw band, playing lead trombone until rejoining Buddy’s band in 1985 playing the lead trombone chair. He lived in the city until November 2020 when he relocated to Fort Myers.
While in NYC for 34 years he was a member of the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra and later a first call sub with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. He’s performed with: The Woody Herman Band, and many acts including Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Vic Damone, Don Rickles, Steve Lawrence, Edie Gourmet, Jimmy Roselli, Hennie Youngman, Cheeta Rivera and others.
Rock will perform John Mathis favorite “Misty” and a very special original work with the band’s returning and well-liked composer Rick DeJonge conducting.
Other songs include “The Magic of Andrew Lloyd Webber and “The March of the Women Marines.
Members are under the direction of Gary Smith who retired after 24 years as conductor of the University of Illinois Marching Illini Band and Symphonic Band. This is the 9th season that Gary has led the band. Gary says “the talent of these musicians is tremendous, ranging in age from 16 to 85.”
Become a “Friend of the Band.” Find out more at www.bonitaspringsconcertband.org.
The concert will also be available streamed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bonitaspringsconcertband