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SLO County Band to Perform 17th Annual Benefit Concert For The Homeless on Sunday Afternoon, November 13th

The San Luis Obispo County Band will perform its 17th Annual Benefit Concert for the Homeless, Sunday afternoon, November 13th, at 3:00 pm at Mount Carmel Lutheran Church, 1701 Frederick Street, San Luis Obispo, with Guest Conductor Dave Hovde, KSBY-TV Chief Meteorologist. The program will support the Homeless Shelter of San Luis Obispo with all proceeds going to assist in the Shelter operations.

Dave Hovde joined KSBY-TV as chief meteorologist in 2003 coming from a station in Fargo, North Dakota. He also worked as chief meteorologist at KERO-TV in Bakersfield. He is a graduate of Minnesota State University and attended Mississippi State and Portland Universities. He is a member of the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association and holds active broadcast certifications with both organizations. He received three Golden Mike awards from the Radio & Television News Association of Southern California for Best Weather Television Segments in 2003, 2005, and 2006.

When off camera, Dave enjoys speaking engagements at local schools and community groups and finds time to play golf and hit the gym. He is the proud dad of Ethan and Campbell. He is no stranger to band music having played trumpet and French horn in high school and college.

The program theme is "Music From Many Places and Times," commemorating the Band's 137th Anniversary year, and will be contain music for concert band by composers from Mozart, Sir Edward Elgar and Gilbert & Sullivan. Dave Hovde will be featured as guest conductor in an arrangement of music from the hit TV show, "Glee." There will also be toe-tappin' pop favorites and plenty of John Philip Sousa. The Band is under the direction of Leonard Lutz.

There is no admission charge for the concert but a free-will donation to support the homeless shelter will be taken at the door. Call 543-5691 for more information. A supporting grant is also being provided by THRIVENT FINANCIAL for Lutherans.

The San Luis Obispo County Band is celebrating its 137th birthday in 2011. It traces its origins back to the "SLO Military Band", founded in 1874, perhaps a local outgrowth of the popularity of brass bands created during the Civil War. During its 137 years, the Band was affiliated with the Elks Club early in the 1920's, with the American Legion in the 1930's and in the 1940's and 50's donned military khaki as the Veterans of Foreign Wars Band. In the 1960's, the Band was offered as a Cuesta College class for several years and is now a part of the educational offerings of the SLO Adult School. The Band is supported also by a grant from the City of San Luis Obispo promotional coordinating funds.

Personnel in the County Band have changed over the years too. Until 1970 the Band was all male until Mayle Tarwater, a percussionist, joined the Band as its first female member. And in 1985, Henrietta Tognazzini was elected Band President, the first woman to hold the position. Today, men and women of all ages are part of the Band.

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