Popular Wedding Locations for 2009

This year, Allegretto Music had the privilege of playing in many beautiful places around San Antonio. Here are some of our favorites.

The Motherhouse Chapel of the University of the Incarnate Word is by far one of our favorites. There are days when we have played both of the weddings scheduled at the Motherhouse. This is a church with over 100 years of history and tradition. We absolutely love Sister Walter and Sister Dorothy, who always welcome us with a hug and a smile. It's like home.

Chamber Orchestra, waiting for our cue, at the Motherhouse Chapel

The Chapel is a great setting for any ensemble. We've played everything here; from solo organ, to a full chamber orchestra. The most popular choices in 2009 were Violin and Harp, and our String Trio. The Motherhouse Chapel is a great place to feature a vocalist, too. Awesome acoustics.

The Canyon Springs Golf Club is another popular destination for weddings. It's so easy to get married at such a naturally pretty place. Our favorite nook is the lawn by the Pavilion. Towering oaks, a gentle breeze.... and a couple hundred of your closest friends. :-)

Flute and Harp in the River Garden, by the Gazebo

Of course, we can't ignore the Southwest School of Art and Craft. What can I say about a place where we have been welcome to play for the past 10 years? The old Ursuline Convent holds a dear place in our hearts. You can't go wrong at the Southwest School. Ceremonies inside the Coates Chapel are quiet, and intimate, and warm. Ceremonies out in the River Garden, or in the Groto are framed by beautiful landscaping, and historic buildings.

Solo Classical Guitar in the Groto

If you want history, no place can rival the Missions. Among them, Mission San Jose is a clear favorite for couples tying the knot.

Detail of the high-arching cupola at Mission San Jose

And another place we visited a lot this year was the Marguerite Parker Chapel at Trinity University. This church is tucked away inside the university campus. Couples here have favored String Trios and Quartets. With a long aisle, this is a great place to make a grand entrance!

View of the organ pipes at the Parker Chapel, Trinity University

Vacation in South Padre Island

This summer, like we do every summer, we headed down south to South Padre Island for a much needed break from real life! We love our little condo on the Island. It's our home away from home. As soon as we open the door of our car and breathe in that wonderfully salty, moist air of the coast all of our stress just melts away.

In South Padre we hone the fine skill of doing absolutely nothing. Well, that's not exactly accurate. We spend a day fishing. The next day, we just play on the beach. We play on the beach every day. It's part of our 'rigorous' daily schedule. After we play on the beach, we play in the pool, and 'decompress' with a soak in the jacuzzi. Yes. Life is so hard at the coast! There are more photos of our little piece of paradise at our website: www.condosouthpadre.com.

Summer is not summer without fireworks. So we returned home to SA for a beautiful 4th of July concert with the San Antonio Symphony. Jose played in the First Violin section. This was a record-breaking performance. Temperature onstage was a balmy 102˚F.

SA Symphony 4th of July Concert at the Sunken Gardens

Jose Irizarry writes orchestrations for Donald Braswell's first Symphony Pops concert

Many of you know Donald Braswell from the hit TV reality show America's Got Talent.  Donald, a native of Boerne, and raised in the San Antonio area, was one of the show's finalists in 2008.  Donald graduated from Juilliard School of Music in NY, and went on to build a great career as an opera tenor.  In 1995, while on tour with the Welsh National Opera, Donald was struck by a car while cycling.  The accident took his voice, and all hopes of continuing a career as a singer.  Doctors said it would be hard for Donald to regain his speech, and that singing again was out of the question.  Eighteen years later, Donald was a finalist in a singing competition, and determined to pick up where he left off.

God has a way of making things happen.  After meeting each other at a wedding (of all places), Jose Irizarry (of Allegretto Music) kept running into Donald Braswell in the most unlikely places.  Each time, Jose would end the converstaion with "You know, Donald, I am a pretty good arranger.  I can write sheet music for you, for whatever instruments you need.  Just let me know anytime you need anything."  And Donald would always say: "Man, that would be really good."

Well, at their last "chance" encounter, during a Symphony concert in Kerrville, Donald said: "This cannot be a coincidence, that you are here.  I need you to write some music for me."  And so it was.  Donald had an opportunity to perform with the Symphony of the Hills, in a Pops Concert format.  That meant that Donald would sing with his band, accompanied by the full orchestra.  The challenge, each of the 70 orchestra musicians would need sheet music to read from.  Donald's band did not have orchestra arrangements for the music they were going to perform.  So they asked Jose if he could write some string parts, or even transcribe some keyboard charts they had.  At least that way they could involve some of the orchestra for the pop songs.

Jose had a much bigger vision for this concert.  He suggested that Donald needed full orchestrations for his music, similar to the style of concerts put on by famous tenors like Andrea Bocelli.  After all, the first time they worked together, Jose and Allegretto accompanied Donald singing Bocelli's Con Te Partiro.  Donald's people were skeptical.  That sounded like a huge project.  Was it even doable in the space of 3 weeks?  Jose offered to write an orchestration for the first song.  If they liked it, then he would write more.  If not, then no harm done, right?  Well.... they liked it.... a LOT!

Donald prepares backstage before the performance

Jose wrote orchestrations for 9 pieces, including an original song composed by Donald's musical director, Anthony Bazzani.  The concert was held on Saturday, June 27th at the Cailloux Theater in Kerrville, TX.  The concert was sold out.  Some of Donald's fans traveled from OR, CA, VA, OH, AR, NV and other parts of the country for the event.

Donald started out the evening with arias from the classical opera repertoire, proving that he's still got the chops for Verdi, Donizetti and Massenet.  Then, his New Chapter band emerged from the orchestra pit, and kicked off the rest of the concert with Sometimes I Dream, a song by tenor Mario Frangoulis.

The audience really enjoyed an Italian-English version of Nights In White Satin by Justin Hayward and Moody Blues.  And everyone was touched when Donald sang Buongiorno Pricipessa from the motion picture Life Is Beautiful.

But the highlight of the night was when he performed The Righteous Brothers' Unchained Melody.  The arrangement started out quietly, with just the harp and built up from there to include the entire orchestra.  It was awesome!  

To end the concert, Braswell chose to sing his signature song You Raise Me Up, made popular by Josh Groban.  It was the song with which he auditioned for the TV show that has given him a second chance at his first love of making music.  At the end, the audience wanted more.  So for an encore, Donald sang a soulful, gospel-style song: Change Is Gonna Come.  

The concert was a total success and Donald could not have been more pleased with his decision to have Jose write all the orchestrations.  "The arrangements make a huge difference," Donald said the first time he heard them in rehearsal.  Representatives from PBS were in attendance at the June 7th concert, where the arrangements were first played with just a string quartet.  Donald's musical director said that they had been "blown away by the arrangements", and have decided to produce a national PBS special with Donald, his band and Allegretto Music.

San Antonio dance band on KENS 5 Saturday Morning News

The people at KENS 5 Eyewitness News featured Groove City Band on their newscast the morning of Saturday, May 23.  This is Groove City's first TV appearance.    You can see it in full in the video clip above, edited by our multi-talented saxophonist, Paul Croteau.  Thanks, Paul!

Max and Jonathan wait for their cue!

Being on TV was a lot of fun, especially the part where we had to be there at 6:30am  :-)

Erica and Ivette, ready for their close-up!

Warming up before the show starts...

Jose and the guys lounging on the couch, during the weather segment.

Donald Braswell of America's Got Talent and San Antonio's Allegretto Music

Sunday, June 7th, Donald Braswell put on a concert to benefit SAMM Ministries, which helps thousands of homeless people in San Antonio improve their lives.  The concert was held on a Sunday afternoon at Concordia Lutheran Church.  Donald featured his "New Chapter Band", with Anthony Bazzani, Dan Dreeben, Joe Gonzales, and Jim Kalson.  And for this concert, the singer wanted to give his music added depth and emotion.  That is why he incorporated a quartet of Allegretto Music string musicians.  The quartet featured 2 violins, a cello and harp.  

Donald Braswell, the New Chapter Band and Allegretto strings onstage

The selections included a wide range of musical styles.  There were pop songs in classical style, like those made famous by tenor Mario Frangoulis.  There was a soulful rendition of "Change If Gonna Come" in the style of singer Seal.  

The concert also featured Donald's very talented singing family members: mother, father, sister and daughters.  A la "Sound Of Music" they even sang the musical's popular "Edelweiss".

Allegretto Strings onstage at Concordia Lutheran

Donald Braswell signs autographs after his performance

San Antonio Variety Band donates Fiesta prize money to St. PJ's Children's Home

the giant check, before we handed it over!

San Antonio's Groove City Band was awarded the first prize as Fiesta's Best Band, for the Texas Cavaliers River Parade.  The honor came with a $2500 award.  The band chose to award their prize money to St. Peter St. Joseph Children's Home in San Antonio.  This is a home that cares for abused and abandoned children, as well as offering family counseling and other services for distressed families in the city.

The presentation was made the morning of May 19th, in front of the Fiesta Commission offices, during a press conference.  Erica Gonzaba (Miss Fiesta 2005), who sang with the band during the parade, Ivette and Jose Irizarry answered questions from the press.

Jose, Ivette and Erica at the press conference

After the press conference, the band answered questions and gave interviews to local news channels

Groove City Band members and Erica Gonzaba with the giant check!

Heart Ball San Antonio - 25th Anniversary Gala

25th Anniversary - Silver Gala - Heart Ball San Antonio

Groove City Band rocks the house !!!!

Friday, May 8, 2009 was the 25th anniversary of Heart Ball in San Antonio, Texas.  This was the first time that Groove City Band was invited to be a part of this celebration.  The Heart Ball is San Antonio's most prestigious charity gala.  It is also the American Heart Association's annual bash, where they can highlight their accomplishments and raise funds for future research to combat heart disease.

This year, Randy Beamer from News 4 WOAI was the Master of Ceremonies.  The evening started out with a silent auction in the foyer of the Grand Hyatt San Antonio Hotel.  Dinner followed, then a live auction.

At $250 per ticket, the American Heart Association did a fabulous job of raising funds for their charity before the evening even started.  The ballroom was packed, with over 300 in attendance.  

After the live auction, it was time to dance!  Groove City did a great job of getting the guests on the dance floor.  We had heard that last year everyone left early, and that they usually did.  Well, this year we were focused on breaking that pattern!  At the end of the night, people did not want to leave!  Everyone was dancing and singing along, requesting songs and having a great time.  Mission accomplished.  After all, you can't call it a ball if there is no dancing!

While we played, our band logo was displayed on two giant screens.  Here is a pic of Jose, keyboard player, band director...... and photographer!  :-)

At the end of the night, we were beat, but it had been a great night indeed.  Here is a shot of the moon behind our Tower of the Americas.  The Grand Hyatt's loading dock has the best view in the city.  ha, ha