The East Texas Chamber Winds (ETCW) performed their eighth winter concert on Saturday, January 6, 2024 at The Fredonia Hotel in Nacogdoches, TX. The performance was led by ETCW Founder and Artistic Director, Roy McLerran. Musical selections for the concert included three works by nearly-forgotten composers, Francaix, Bologne, and Raff. The theme for the concert was “Music of the 70s” since each work was composed in that decade, across three different centuries (from the 18th-20th). The period has consistently been characterized by socio-political revolutions, followed by large shifts in fashion and classical music. The first piece, Overture to L’Amant Anonyme by Joseph Bologne (1745-1799) was a sample of early French opera which was contrasted with the modern and angular-sounding second work, 9 Pièces Caractéristiques by French composer, Jean Francaix (1912-1997). After a brief intermission, the concert concluded with a work from the Romantic era, Sinfonietta, Op.188 by German-Swiss composer, Joachim Raff (1822-1882).
The concert showcased the talents of thirteen instrumental musicians, each associated with SFASU, and was attended by approximately seventy community members. The music for the evening was paired with a selection of complimentary refreshments and a cash bar provided by The Fredonia Hotel. Decorations for the event were designed by Jacqueline Doss of the JD Ranch Boutique and provided by ETCW President, Tracy Doss.
The ETCW would like to thank our individual and corporate supporters for this concert cycle:
Charles and Sharon Bradberry
Tracy Doss
Patti and Rod McLerran
Jennifer Myrick
Betty Oglesbee
John and Sharon Oglesbee
Sharon and Charles Pollard
Rick and Sandi Russell
Mary Ann Sprinkle
Jan and Terri Wubbena
Commercial Bank of Texas
Additional thanks to the SFASU School of Music and The Fredonia Hotel for the use of their facilities, to San Augustine ISD for the music stands and concert programs, and to Brad Meyer for the recording services. The video of the performance will be available shortly on the ETCW Facebook page and the “Archive” page of the website. The ETCW will return to The Fredonia Hotel on Saturday, June 15th for their 9th summer concert.
Read an article about the event by Andrew Hodge of The Daily Sentinel here.
The East Texas Chamber Winds (ETCW), led by Roy McLerran, presented their eighth annual summer concert at the Fredonia Hotel on Saturday, June 17, 2023. Musicians of the ensemble are all Texas-natives and music educators who are mostly affiliated with the SFASU School of Music. Musical selections for this summer included works by Haydn, Schultz, and Strauss. Audience members enjoyed an evening of music complete with a full bar and light refreshments provided by the hotel. The atmosphere of the event was enriched with the elegant table decorations made by Jacqueline Doss, owner of the JD Ranch Boutique, and donated by current president of the ETCW board, Tracy Doss.
The ETCW would like to thank our supporters for this concert cycle:
Tracy Doss
Patti and Rod McLerran
Sharon and Charles Pollard
Dr. John and Sharon Oglesbee
Sandi and Rick Russell
Terri and Jan Wubbena
Shelby Savings Bank
Commercial Bank of Texas
Additional thanks to SFASU and The Fredonia Hotel for the use of their facilities, to SAISD for the music stands and the concert programs, and to Dr. Brad Meyer for the recording services. The ETCW will return to Nacogdoches on January 6th for their annual winter concert.
The ETCW performed their annual winter concert on Saturday, January 7, 2023 at 7:00 PM. The performance took place in historic Mast Hall in downtown Nacogdoches, TX. Musical selections included lesser known works by Gouvy and Franciax and an original arrangement of Saint-Saëns’ famous “Carnival of the Animals” for winds by Roy McLerran. The performance was well-attended with one of the largest audiences in ETCW history and was supported by local businesses - Naca Valley Vineyards and Blue Horse Bakery. In addition, complimentary refreshments were prepared and served by the talented Jennifer Myrick. Decorations for the event were arranged by Tracy Doss, President of the ETCW, with subtle references to each animal from McLerran’s arrangement. Special thanks to SFASU for the use of their rehearsal spaces and to San Augustine ISD for the use of their music stands. As always, the ETCW were glad to celebrate their craft with good food and good friends, old and new. Thank you to everyone who helped make the event a success!
Artistic Director, Roy McLerran, leads the performance.
Socializing after the performance.
The East Texas Chamber Winds are excited to announce that we have now achieved our own 501c3 status! Donations to the ETCW will continue to be tax-exempt to the extent permissible by law. See our “Donations” page for more information.
The 2022-2023 ETCW Board of Directors includes:
Tracy Doss, President
Patti McLerran, Secretary/Treasurer
Brandon Beavers
Marina McLerran
Roy McLerran
The Summer 2022 Concert was a huge success! The ETCW performed 19th century works for audiences in the setting of the period-accurate chapel at Millard’s Crossing Historic Village in Nacogdoches, TX. The event was made more special by wine and pastry sales from Naca Valley Vineyard and the Blue Horse Bakery. Special Guest Conductor, Jack Hontz (far right) conducted the Texas premiere of his arrangement of a work by Debussy.
Thank you to everyone who came out to our Summer 2021 concert at Naca Valley Vineyard! We set a new audience record with more than 100 people in attendance and had the best time reconnecting with everyone. Thank you to the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music for the use of their facilities and to San Augustine ISD for lending us music stands for the performance. Thank you to Emily “Kubs” Sabrsula for being our photographer for the weekend.
The ETCW are excited to return to the stage after a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Arrangements are being made to select an appropriate outdoor venue in order to ensure social distancing of musicians and audience members. Check the “events” page for further details.
The ETCW was honored to be featured in a short article in Nacogdoches’ official newspaper, the Daily Sentinel, the morning before their Winter 2020 concert in historic Mast Hall. This concert marked the beginning of the ensemble’s fourth year of performing for the community and was well-attended. It is the goal of the ETCW to continue providing high quality music to the East Texas area, free of charge, in order to encourage a spirit of togetherness and educate the public about the history and possibilities of wind instruments.
The East Texas Chamber Winds are excited to perform a brand new work, “Mountain Songs,” by Texas composer Jack Wilds as part of the annual winter concert along with selections by Mendelssohn and Krommer. The performance will take place on January 5, 2019 at 6pm in historic Mast Hall on Main Street in Nacogdoches, TX.
In keeping with the mission of the ETCW to provide quality musical performances to the public free of charge, there will not be entry or parking fees. Because the chamber winds is a non-profit organization, it is necessary to ask the local community for financial support to fund events like these. Please visit our page on our sponsor's website here.
Image by PJ DeJesus from the ETCW World Premiere Concert on January 5, 2019.
The East Texas Chamber Winds (ETCW) is a local ensemble dedicated to the accurate performance of harmoniemusik. The ETCW’s premiere concert took place in San Augustine, TX at the First United Methodist Church in the summer of 2016, conducted by Roy McLerran. Members of the ETCW are all either current students or recent graduates of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music in Nacogdoches, TX.
We are excited to announce that we have accepted an invitation to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) annual convention in San Antonio, TX! The concert will take place on Friday, February 16, 2018 from 2-2:30pm in the West Lobby of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
Image by PJ DeJesus from the 2018 TMEA Convention in San Antonio, TX
The East Texas Chamber Winds are excited to announce an upcoming collaboration with Texas composer, Jack Wilds. The ETCW will premiere an original Wilds piece on their annual winter concert in January 2019. More details to come!