History |
PWE History Presentation
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1991 – Founded as Peachtree City Concert Band
Band Director – Bob Lancette The Peachtree Wind Ensemble, originally called the Peachtree City Concert Band, was founded in 1991 by Bob Lancette, a band director and tuba player from Minnesota. With initial funding assistance from Peachtree City and the ECCA, (Endowment Committee for the Cultural Arts) grants were obtained to purchase music. The first rehearsal space of the Peachtree City Concert Band was the band room of the J.C. Booth Middle School in Peachtree City, GA. Along with his wife, Gayle, a flute player, Bob succeeded in developing, conducting, and managing the band for the first few years. (He later returned to conduct and play tuba until ill health prevented his continuing.) 1993-1994
Band Director - Tom Stroud 1994-1998
Band Director - John R. Miller 
Peachtree City Concert Band - Charter Members
Back Row: Bill Alshire, Jeremy Steadman, John Pierson, Ken Gaynor, Bill Steadman, Joe McDaniels, Bob Lancette Front Row: David Bohannan, Gayle Lancette, Jan Payne, Lori Bailey, ?,Andrea Schmid, Tammy Collins, Paige Steadman, Janet Prado, ?, John R. Miller (Conductor)
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PWE 1991-2011
20 years of service to the community (PDF of PowerPoint Presentation) See the Notes for the above Presentation. PWE Logo Thru the Years
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This band photo features three members of the Steadman family: Bill Steadman (baritone), his son Jeremy (trumpet), and daughter Paige (euphonium). They joined the band while Jeremy was recovering from a serious accident and unable to play in the McIntosh High School band. During the months that Jeremy attended rehab in Atlanta, Bill Aleshire, one of the original band members, organized a daily car pool to help with Jeremy’s transportation needs. Coincidentally, one of the therapists with whom Jeremy worked during his recovery was John R. Miller. When the band was looking for a new director, Jeremy knew that John had more than one degree in music, so he asked John to conduct the Peachtree City Concert Band. Although Paige has long left the area for school and a career in theatre, Bill continues to play with the PWE, and Jeremy played with us until the fall of 2010 when a job required his move to Columbus, GA. We miss him very much! Bill has played an integral part of the band’s history, serving on the Board of Directors of the band for many years and tirelessly working to promote the PWE.
1999 - 2003
Interim Band Directors: Rodger Dane and Mariano Pacetti
After John R. Miller left around 1998, Bob Lancette returned to lead the band again. After he became ill, there were a few conductors that led the band for short periods until a more permanent conductor could be found. Two conductors stand out, Rodger Dane and Mariano Pacetti. It was at this time the president of the board decided to try and find John R. Miller again to see if he would be willing to come back. Without current information on John Miller, he looked in the phone directory for John Millers in Fayetteville and started calling. John S. Miller answered the phone to a man asking if this was John Miller the band director. John S. Miller answered, “yes, but nobody knows that”. It was during that time that John S. Miller became the conductor of the Peachtree Wind Ensemble in 2003.
Interim Band Directors: Rodger Dane and Mariano Pacetti
After John R. Miller left around 1998, Bob Lancette returned to lead the band again. After he became ill, there were a few conductors that led the band for short periods until a more permanent conductor could be found. Two conductors stand out, Rodger Dane and Mariano Pacetti. It was at this time the president of the board decided to try and find John R. Miller again to see if he would be willing to come back. Without current information on John Miller, he looked in the phone directory for John Millers in Fayetteville and started calling. John S. Miller answered the phone to a man asking if this was John Miller the band director. John S. Miller answered, “yes, but nobody knows that”. It was during that time that John S. Miller became the conductor of the Peachtree Wind Ensemble in 2003.
2003 – 2007
Band Director: John S. Miller
Band Director: John S. Miller
John S. Miller conducted the band for 4 years from 2003-2007. The band rehearsed at the YMCA facility on Huiett Rd. in Fayetteville. Also John recalls that toward the end of his time as conductor, the band received a new member that was very influential, Adrian Wang. He was new to town and had moved from Plano, TX where he was very involved with the Plano community band. He shortly became president of the board. In 2007, John’s working situation changed and he needed to pass the baton. Mike Landry was a clarinet and trumpet player in the band, but also was a director. Mike Landry became the Peachtree Wind Ensemble’s conductor.
2007 – 2009
Band Director : Mike Landry
Band Director : Mike Landry
Under Mike’s direction, the YMCA rehearsal location made changes to their facility and it became necessary to find a new home for the Peachtree Wind Ensemble. Adrian had recruited a fellow trombonist, Craig Davis who at the time attended the St. Paul Lutheran church and school in Peachtree Ctiy. Craig was very influential in the partnership between the Peachtree Wind Ensemble and the St. Paul Lutheran Church. The band moved their rehearsal venue to St. Paul at 700 Ardenlee Parkway. It is a great location because it is so accessible for people coming from different directions. It was during Mike and Adrian’s time as leaders that the band grew to 50 members. They added more performances, including the Pizza and Pops series where the band played in front of the original Partner’s II Pizza once per month from the spring to the fall. The band also began their relationship with the Twilight Theater, where members of the PWE agreed to play in their pit bands for their shows at the Fred Amphitheater. Mike retired from his job in the spring of 2009, so the band was on the hunt for a new conductor again.
2010 – Present
Band Director: Mike Daniell
Band Director: Mike Daniell
Mike Daniell, a music minister at the North Fayette United Methodist church in Fayetteville, GA filled the position. Mike works tirelessly promoting the band and making music. In the spring of 2010, the Peachtree Wind Ensemble held their first Young Artist Competition for local High School and Middle School band students. The first winners were Shelby Jones and Anna Rainwater. These girls performed with the Peachtree Wind Ensemble on their Spring Concert in 2010. The Peachtree Wind Ensemble also commissioned work for the 2010-2011 season. This piece, “Dreams of Buenos Aires” was composed by Dr. Andrew Poor and performed for the first time on their 2011 spring concert.
Beginning this 2011-2012 season, the Peachtree Wind Ensemble has partnered with the Point University (formerly Atlanta Christian College) where their music students will play with the PWE as their performing ensemble.
Out of the Peachtree City community band and the Peachtree Wind Ensemble, several smaller ensembles have emerged, such as brass quintets, woodwind quintets, trios, saxophone quartets, clarinet and flute ensembles. The band members enjoy a ‘members concert’ in the spring where some of these small ensembles and members of the band play for each other.
Beginning this 2011-2012 season, the Peachtree Wind Ensemble has partnered with the Point University (formerly Atlanta Christian College) where their music students will play with the PWE as their performing ensemble.
Out of the Peachtree City community band and the Peachtree Wind Ensemble, several smaller ensembles have emerged, such as brass quintets, woodwind quintets, trios, saxophone quartets, clarinet and flute ensembles. The band members enjoy a ‘members concert’ in the spring where some of these small ensembles and members of the band play for each other.
2012 - The Peachtree Wind Ensemble Celebrated 20 Years of Making Music
