ENCINITAS – If you are in the brass section of the Coastal Communities Concert Band, don't get caught picking up your instrument seconds before it's time to play.
Proper intonation requires preparation, and conductor Don Caneva will stop everything – a whole row of tubas, seven slide trombones, booming kettle drums and an entire wind section – just to let you know.
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What: Movie Magic: A Tribute to the Silver Screen
When: 2 p.m. May 21
Where: Carlsbad Community Church, Jefferson Street and Pine Avenue
Tickets: $10 to $12
Information: (760) 436-6137 or www.cccband.com
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“It's not grab your horn and play,” Caneva said at a rehearsal for Movie Magic: A Tribute to the Silver Screen, the concert to be staged next Sunday at Carlsbad Community Church.
“Doc Severinsen didn't do that, and he's a pretty decent trumpet player. He had that horn up two measures before he played, and he was ready here (pointing to his head) and here (hitting his chest).”
The 85-member band started again, playing a medley from “Star Wars” with a rich symphonic sound that one rarely hears live.
It's one of the reasons the Coastal Communities Concert Band draws large audiences and grows in membership every year.
The group has a handful of pros, including Mickey Janelli, who heads Band in Black, and her husband, Carl, who leads a saxophone quartet. Amy Villanova, part of the wind section, is a program coordinator for instrumental music at Canyon Crest Academy.
The musicians represent all walks of life, from surgeons and lawyers to teachers. Many were skilled players who put aside musical interests while they built their careers, then returned to performing.
Caneva, born into a family of band directors, has taught and led orchestras for about 50 years. He got involved with the band 17 years ago.
“There were about 30 in the band then. Now we have about 85,” he said.
“As we got better, we started attracting better musicians.”
The reputation of the band draws top high school band students, who jump at the chance to play with a large orchestra.
Every year, young instrumentalists from North County high schools are invited to audition for the concert. Seven students were chosen to perform this year, and scholarships will be awarded to two musicians for displaying expert musicianship.
Trumpeter Sean O'Donnell, a sophomore at La Costa Canyon High School, played in the band last year and will do so again this year.
“I like it because everyone in the band loves music, and they love to play. It's a great atmosphere – different than high school. In high school you don't have as many people who are into it.”
Anna Waite, a senior at San Dieguito Academy, auditioned and played with the band last year and won a scholarship for $250. She used the money to help pay for Interlochen Arts Camp, a six-week course in Michigan that she described as “incredible.”
Anna, who will return this year, said she is looking forward to performing with the band for the same reason she chose to play clarinet. It's a challenge.
“They are an advanced group of musicians, and I knew it would be a good experience,” she said.
Also chosen to perform in Movie Magic were sophomore Michael Kuski and senior Robert Van der Reith of La Costa Canyon High.
Freshman Sam Johnson of Canyon Crest Academy and sophomore Nick Mastrogany and senior Josh Perkins of San Dieguito Academy will also play.
The concert will showcase compositions by Henry Mancini and scores from “The Wizard of Oz,” “Harry Potter,” “Jurassic Park” and Disney films.
Along with sharing a love for performing orchestral music, the large community band shares laughs.
Caneva's favorite number is the romantic soundtrack from “Superman.” Two years ago, he underwent an operation for cancer and had to forgo directing the band.
“I lost my spleen, right before Christmas, and I barely made it to the concert,” he said. “But I asked if I could conduct that song, and they said, 'Of course.'”
Caneva slowly made his way to the podium, still frail. He asked the audience if he could remove his jacket. No one minded. Underneath, Caneva wore a Superman outfit, and when the laughter finally subsided, he directed the band with the energy and passion of a super hero.
Let us know about North County arts and leisure events. Contact Marcia Manna at marcia.manna@uniontrib.com or (760) 476-8223.
