Sulu on the small screen

by: Jenny Baxter- AWS percussionist

If you’re a Heroes fan, yesterday was a national holiday, filled with the long-awaited first two episodes of season three. The addicting show, based on the style of graphic novels, has reached soaring popularity and follows the lives of the good, the bad and the ugly of super power world. Though season 2 was interrupted like most primetime by the writer strikes, the new installment, subtitled Heroes & Villians is now in full swing.

Though George Takei appeared only in video form in this episode, the Star Trek veteran made a good run on Heroes through the last of the first season into the second.  And the nature of the show tells me we might be seeing more of him in season three. Takei plays Hiro’s mysterious and powerful father Kaito Nakamura,  CEO of Yamagato industries in Japan. It seems Takei can’t get away from his Star Trek days as Mr. Sulu on the USS Enterprise; Hiro’s character is a huge Star Trek fan and Nakamura’s limo in his first appearance has a license plate reading NCC-1701, the model of the Enterprise.

[I love the pictures you can find on the Internet. From blog Bitten & Bound.]

Takei also made news recently for his personal life. After announcing this summer that he would marry his 21-year partner Brad Altman, they tied the knot on September 14 in Los Angeles, following the overturn of the gay marriage ban in California.

You can watch episodes featuring Takei and many others here.

Follow the sound

by: Jenny Baxter- AWS percussionist

Though you’ve probably noticed, the feed on the blog, the Austin Wind Symphony now has its very own twitter, so we can keep members and supporters of the group updated instantly on what we’re doing.

I’m a journalism student, so news, blogging and constant updates are inherent in my daily life, but many people aren’t quite used to all this new media yet. AWS has set these up, in addition to Myspace networking to reach out to our audience and members and make them feel more connected. Instead of receiving information from just a faceless web site, you can get a feel for our personalities and our human sides.

This is a huge theme in Star Trek as well. The show isn’t just a sci-fi show about different species, it’s about their “human” element as well, their emotions, experiences and relationships. That’s what makes the show so relevant and important to so many fans, whether they be costume-wearing trekkies or casual viewers of episodes on Spike.

[I just found this picture online. A little bit too much relationship going on?]

So make a comment, friend us on Myspace, follow us on Twitter and stay connected. That’s our goal and it’s why we’re not just a community band.

“Combadge of Courage”

Guest Blogger: Patrick Phillips

As conductor, I often have a bad habit of asking bizzare things of the orchestra, but this concert definately takes the cake…  Because we are celebrating the music of “Star Trek” I found it nessesary to ask the entire ensemble to dress as though they served on board a starship, or a strange race of alien beings for concert night… While some have went out and actually purchased their costumes… Some made their own from scratch.  One thing would be missing I knew, and I couldn’t have that, now could I?

So I asked Arvis Green, secretary of the ensemble to mold 50 Communicators from Star Trek: The Next Generation, and promised I would help her paint each one by hand… A week later she had not only molded them, but completely painted them as well!

Molded Combadge Props

They LOOK fantastic, and now the ensemble can be in touch with their fancy new communicator badges and the audience can rest assured knowing that the uniforms look and feel authentic.

Thanks Arvis!

Austin Wind Symphony – Pigeon Impossible Scoring Session Photos

On March 25th, 2008 The Austin Wind Symphony recorded the score for Director Lucas Martell’s animated film “Pigeon Impossible”.  It was a blast, and I came across his posting of the event on his blog complete with photo’s and a sound clip of the AWS performing the title logo… CHECK IT OUT!

http://blog.pigeonimpossible.com/?p=18

For those who don’t know, Lucas Martell is also a very talented Sax player who has been with the AWS since the very beginning… THANKS LUCAS!  Congratulations!

Gene Roddenberry’s Diverse Future – AWS Embraces Diversity

Our upcoming concert, “Star Trek: the Symphonic Frontier” (October 24th, 2008) is an opportunity for everyone to understand and embrace diversity and inclusion in our community. Diversity covers race, gender, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, physical ability, and so much more. It is the differences that make each of us unique. The Austin Wind Symphony realizes that individuals have unique contributions and differences, but most of us are more alike than different.

Austin Wind Symphony members are rich in our diversity of thinking, perspectives, backgrounds, and culture. Our diversity (as well as talent) nurtures our ensemble’s innovative spirit. Being the music capital, Austin has provided us a rich resource pool of diverse, talented musicians. Our conductor has acknowledged our differences and is using them in a positive way. He recognizes the power of the mix; there is a strength that results from diversity, and we want you to experience it with us.

The concert on October 24 is our chance to recognize and acknowledge differences and similarities and show you how magic happens. If various species across the galaxies can get together to make great Star Trek movies and shows, we can get together to make not only a great concert, but also a great opportunity for Austin’s “species” to get together.

Don’t miss it. We look forward to seeing you in costume at 8:00pm. (3701 Slaughter Lane W., Austin Texas 78745)

Find us online: http://www.austinwindsymphony.org

.: Read more about Star Trek’s Diverse Universe Here: http://www.foundationnews.org/CME/article.cfm?ID=3054

For Immediate Release: Austin Wind Symphony Boldly Goes into “Star Trek: The Symphonic Frontier”, October 24, 2008

Austin Wind Symphony Boldly Goes into “Star Trek: The Symphonic Frontier”, October 24

Netflix voice over Artist Jim Kipping narrates concert featuring music from Star Trek

Austin, TX. (September 9, 2008) – Local Austin “Trekkies” will be in for a real Sci-Fi treat when Conductor Patrick Phillips leads the Austin Wind Symphony in iconic works from the legacy of Star Trek  October 24 at Bethany Lutheran Church in South Austin.  The concert, dedicated in memory of composer Alexander Courage will feature synchronized visuals, sound effects, and an original story crafted in order to “engage” the audience.

The AWS will perform some of STAR TREK’S most memorable music, including Alexander Courage’s classic theme from the original television series, as well as multi-Emmy Award winner Jerry Goldsmith’s majestic End Titles from Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and the regal theme for Star Trek: Voyager.  The concert will also feature works by Jay Chattaway (The Inner Light), Dennis McCarthy (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; Star Trek: Generations) Leonard Rosenman (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home) and James Horner (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan).

Designed to appeal directly to the Star Trek fan base (and in celebration of Halloween) all of the volunteer orchestra’s 50 members will be dressed as either Star Trek crew members or other alien races.  AWS Audiences are also encouraged to “dress the part.”

COMPLETE PROGRAM INFORMATION
”Star Trek: The Symphonic Frontier”
Friday, October 24, 2008 – 8pm
Patrick Phillips, conductor
Jim Kipping, narrator

Alexander Courage: Main Title from Star Trek (Arr. Ted Vives)
Gerald Fried: Suite from Amok Time (Arr. Ted Vives)
Ray Ellis: Star Trek The Animated Series
Jerry Goldsmith: Star Trek The Motion Picture
James Horner: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Leonard Rosenman: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Dennis McCarthy: Star Trek Generations
Jay Chattaway: The Inner Light
Jerry Goldsmith: Star Trek First Contact
Jerry Goldsmith: Star Trek Voyager
Various: Star Trek Through the Years

Tickets for this concert are $8 (per individual) and will be available at the door the night of the concert, or at http://www.austinwindsymphony.org

The Austin Wind Symphony in Rehearsals at Bethany Lutheran Church

The Austin Wind Symphony is a 501(c) 3 organization and exists purely from generous donations.

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The Nexus Generation

by: Jenny Baxter- AWS percussionist

This week I experienced something magical during rehearsal, and no, it wasn’t because of the beefy cheesy burrito I ate earlier. While playing Star Trek: The Next Generation, a slow part wasn’t being played dramatically enough. Patrick took a minute to describe the actual scene in the series. Captain Picard, a man who rarely shows emotion, enters the Nexus, which is a “temporal phenomenon” which transforms dreams and desires into temporary reality. Picard, who has no more chance of a family dreams that he married Antonia, the woman he wanted to marry but didn’t. In the Nexus he lived with his wife, dog and five children in a log cabin. The rarely emotional captain cries in this beautiful temporary reality.

After Patrick described this scene, we played the section of the piece again, this time with much more feeling, because at least for me, I know I imagined this picture in my head.

Another thing that was mentioned during rehearsal was the death of Don LaFontaine, voiceover extraordinaire. Over 40 years he filmed over 5000 trailers, including some of AWS’s promotions. We’ll miss his voice, his charisma and that mustache.