The
East Bay Summer Wind Ensemble was organized in June of 1976 by Founder
and Conductor,
Lt. Col. Steven Grimo (current
Commander/Conductor of The United
States Air Force Academy Band) of Bristol, R.I. as a non-profit,
educational community music program to offer residents of the East Bay area of
Rhode Island a chance to become actively involved in cultural activities. The
primary purpose of the ensemble was to offer residents an opportunity to read
and perform music of all types and to expose the community to a valuable musical
experience. The original organization included the Wind
Ensemble,
a Jazz Ensemble and a number of Chamber
Music Groups of various instrumentations
and was funded, in part, by The National Endowment for the Arts and The Rhode
Island State Council on the Arts. Each group rehearsed once a week for the
duration of the summer months at St. Mary's Church Hall in Bristol, R.I. or at
the Warren Baptist Church in Warren, R.I. Through the years, additional
ensembles were added to the organization and the name of the organization
changed to The East Bay Association for the Arts in 1980
under the direction of Project Director, Lt. Col. Steven Grimo and Assistant
Director, Mrs. Maureen Horgan Grimo. The organization grew to include a Wind
Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Dixieland Band, Stage (Dues) Band, Solo/Ensemble
Programs, Chorus, Jazz Swing Choir and the East Bay Theatre Company boasting
instructors such as Mr. William P. Dennis (Theater Director), Mr. James Ascoli
(Theater Musical Director), Charles Mello (Choral Director), Paul Bowser
(Assistant Conductor of E.B.S.W.E. and Conductor of Dues Band), Beth Comer
(Children's Theater Director) and Ruth Souto (Jazz Swing Choir Director).
After the 1986 summer season,
Steven Grimo joined the United States Air Force and left the various ensembles
in the capable hands former students, teachers and friends. After
his departure,
many of the ensembles continued under the leadership of various directors and
separated from the umbrella organization of the East Bay Association for the
Arts. The East Bay Chorus remained in the Bristol area and continued under the
direction of Ruth E. Souto, while the East Bay Jazz Ensemble continued
under the direction of Mr. Gerry Grimo and moved to Vermont during the late
1980's with Gerry and his family. The ensemble, now called
Gerry Grimo and the East Bay Jazz Ensemble,
have become a well-known attraction in that area and continue to perform at
weddings, summer concerts and other celebration throughout the year.
As for the East Bay Summer
Wind Ensemble, it was to continue under the direction of Mr. Paul M. Bowser.
Mr. Bowser began performing with the ensemble in 1978 on trumpet and continued
with the group throughout his high school and college years. Mr. Bowser is
currently the Director of Bands at North Cumberland Middle School in Cumberland,
RI and has been for almost 20 years. He is a graduate of Wheaton College in
Wheaton, Illinois with a Bachelors of Music Education and the University of
Rhode Island with a Masters Degree in Music Education with an emphasis in
Composition. Mr. Bowser has composed numerous works, including pieces for
concert band, percussion ensemble, brass ensemble, assorted chamber ensembles,
handbells, mixed chorus and symphony orchestra. Mr. Bowser led the ensemble
during the 1987 and 1988 seasons, even continuing the ensemble outside of the
summer months for a time, until the group took a one year sabbatical in 1989.
From 1990 through 2005, the organization focused its efforts on two main wind ensembles; The East Bay Summer Wind Ensemble providing a wind ensemble experience for advanced instrumentalists ages ranging from advanced high school musicians on up and The East Bay Summer Youth Ensemble providing a wind ensemble experience for intermediate junior and senior high school instrumentalists. During that time, Mt. Hope High School (formerly Bristol High School) Performing Arts Director, Mr. Robert J. Arsenault had been director of the ensembles. Mr. Arsenault graduated from Rhode Island College in 1975 with a B.S. in Music Education and in 1989, he completed his Masters in Educational Leadership from Bridgewater State College. He has directed the Bristol and Mt. Hope High School Bands since 1988 and has been the chair of the Performing Arts Department since 1994. Mr. Arsenault was the first of Rhode Island’s instrumental music teachers to be recognized as "Outstanding Band Director-Making a Difference in Students’ Lives" by School Band and Orchestra Magazine. Both the EBSWE and EBSYE rehearsed during that time at St. Mary's of the Bay Church Hall in Warren, R.I. and then at Mt. Hope High School in Bristol, R.I.
In 2006, The East Bay Summer Wind Ensemble began its 30th season of
offering community
musicians (amateur, student and professional) with a quality
summer music experience while providing first-rate traditional and contemporary
band music performances to neighboring communities. Taking over as director of
The East Bay Summer Wind Ensemble and The East Bay Summer Youth Ensemble was
Mr.
David M. Marshall. Mr. Marshall is a native Bristolian and 1998 graduate of
Berklee College of Music with a B.S. in Music Education. For 9 years he was the
Director of Music for the Swansea Public School System in Swansea, Massachusetts
where he was also the director of The Joseph Case High School
"Cardinals" Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Chorus and Show Choir.
In June of 2007, he
took over the duties of Director of Bands at
Somerset High School in Somerset,
Massachusetts. There he directs the Somerset High School "Blue Raider" Marching
Band, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Show Choir Pit Band,
Musical Production Pit Orchestra and is the Winter Music Activities Director
supervising all activities of the Winter Percussion and Winter Color Guard.
Under his direction, those instrumental and vocal performing ensembles excelled and earned numerous group and individual awards at festivals and
competitions throughout Massachusetts, as well as in New York City, Washington D.C., Allentown, PA
and Virginia Beach, VA. Many of his former and current students have successfully auditioned for the
Southeastern District MMEA and Massachusetts' MMEA All-State Honors Ensembles.
Additionally, he is an active member of the following music organizations:
MENC (The National Association for Music
Education), MMEA (Massachusetts
Music Educators' Association), TI:ME (Technology
Institute for Music Educators), NESBA (New
England Scholastic Band Association) and USSBA (United
States Scholastic Band Association). Mr. Marshall has
been a performing member of The East Bay Summer Wind Ensemble since 1990 on alto
saxophone and has been both ensembles' assistant conductor since 1996 under the tutelage of Mr.
Robert Arsenault.
On August 3, 2006, The East Bay Summer Wind Ensemble celebrated 30 years of community music with their 30th Anniversary Concert on the Bristol Town Common. The night featured both The East Bay Wind Ensemble and The East Bay Summer Youth Ensemble with special appearances from the ensembles' former directors as guest conductors. Returning to conduct selections along with Mr. Marshall were Mr. Bowser, Mr. Arsenault and Lt. Col. Grimo. It was a celebration of EBSWE's past, present and future musical accomplishments!