#133 Julie Angelis-Boehler- SFC, Principal Timpanist of The US Army Band “Pershing's Own" & More!
Today’s episode is sponsored by Sweetwater!
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Today’s guest is Sargent First Class Julie Angelis-Boehler. She joined The US Army Band (The Pershing’s Own) in 1997 and has served as Principal Timpanist since 2003. Upon assuming that role, she performed a timpani concerto and received a standing ovation while on a trip to her native state of Massachusetts. She was interviewed on the radio and featured in a full-length magazine article as a "hometown hero" during "Spirit of America" tours to Worcester, MA in 2004 and 2008. Boehler's freelance highlights include tours of the US, Japan & Italy where she performed with Pavarotti; subbing with the Houston Symphony & Ballet Orchestras; The Washington Opera Orchestra of which she was an audition finalist; and as a member of The Maryland Symphony Orchestra where she was featured on a PBS documentary called, "Bob The Vid Tech: Music To My Ears." She received degrees from The University of Massachusetts-Amherst cum laude and Rice University in Houston, TX. She currently resides in Arlington with her husband, Joe, and their daughter, Alexis.
Damon references the interview (#96) with Julie’s Brother Nick, if you’d like to go back and check that out.
Gig Alerts for this week…..
Marcos will be performing this coming Sunday with the Sammy Figueroa band doing a Cal Tjader tribute, at Birdland in NYC at 7.30pm. If you would like to audition for the West Point band on Drumset, CLICK HERE! Julie will be retiring from the Army Band and an opening on Timpani will be open to auditions.
This podcast is now on Spotify, so you can follow on there and listen on that medium. Possible playlist of the iconic recordings each week TBD.
Educational Spotlight for this week…..
PASIC registration is NOW OPEN. You can also still nominate an individual for the Lifetime achievement award for education. Lastly, if you would like to sign up for a PAS committee, there are openings you can check out now.
In addition to the explanation of “et cetera”, here are some other commonly made grammar mistakes.
Iconic recording for this week…..
“Anacaona” by Cheo Feliciano on Fania Records on the album “Cheo”. You can see a clip from that concert Damon mentions by clicking HERE.
Music News for this week……
Here is the article on (friend of the show) Martin Cohen on the Latino USA website, talking about “How he made it” referring to how he started the Latin Percussion instrument company from an interest in photography. Stevie Wonder will be getting a kidney transplant this fall!!!! Deezer Expands Its Shazam-Killer ‘SongCatcher’ Into iOS. Federal Agents Arrest R. Kelly for Multiple Sex Crimes in Two States. Also, his Ex-Staffers Reveal Over 20 Videos of Kelly With Underage Girls. Lastly, Woodstock 50 Directly Appeals to Local Residents After Town Officials Deny Its Permit.
The song leading into the interview is an arrangement for “Jupiter” by Gustav Holst, performed by Julie.
Julie’s percussion career “officially” started Memorial day 1979 playing crash cymbals for the drum corps, the Satellites. from Leicester, MA. Once she got here license, she went to Nashua, NH to join the Spartans and continue to study with Chris Dufault.
After the Spartans, Julie got into the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. After the GBYSO, Julie won a spot at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. Shout-out to (friend of the show) Ed Choi for getting Julie back into drum corps and joining the 1990 Boston Crusaders.
Julie (and Nick) have great pitch memory. If you would like to test yourself to see if you have perfect pitch, you can CLICK HERE to find out.
If you are interested in learning the excerpts you need to know for various orchestral auditions on timpani, here is a list of pieces to check out, and also what some orchestras recommend learning.
This is what Brahms 4th Symphony sounds like. Here are some timpani fun facts.
Damon mentions some of the different grips used by timpani players.
Julie attended Boston University before coming down with mono and then transferring to Umass Amherst.
Shout-out to the late Dr. Horace Clarence Boyer for letting Julie into the vocal jazz ensemble.
Damon talks about learning the excerpt for the “Magic Flute” The excerpt comes in at 2.24 in THIS VIDEO.
After Umass, Julie got her masters degree at Rice University. Shout-out to Richard Brown for helping Julie get her excerpts together.
After several years of school, one of the perks of joining the Army band for Julie was the College Loan Repayment Program.
Shout-out to another Umass Amherst alumni, Lt. Col. Jason Fettig.
The percussion group Julie refers to at Umass that she heard was M’Boom, founded by the late Max Roach.
During the summers, Julie did a bunch of festivals like, the National Repertory Orchestra, the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, the National Orchestral Institute in College Park, MD and the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan. After returning to Houston in the fall, she was subbing with the Houston Symphony.
Julie mentions feeling like Private Benjamin when reporting to boot camp.
There are several military bands to audition for like the Army, Navy (Marines), Air Force, and Coast Guard.
The Seven Minute workout that Damon does on the road is HERE.
The timpani used in the ensemble Julie plays in are the Walter Light , Dresden style timpani.
One of the groups Julie gets to play with is Choralis.
Julie just came back from the IWBC formed by Susan Slaughter. Damon brings up that the (formerly) All-Male Madison Scouts drum corps will now become co-ed.
Damon and Julie bring up the publication Tom Tom Magazine which features women drummers and percussionists. Julie was actually featured in the magazine a while back. There is also the Hit Like a Girl competition as well.
Shout-out to Douglas Cardwell of the New Mexico symphony and his mallets, as well as the David Woodhull series that Julie uses.
The song leading out of the interview is Wenceslas: VII. Fanfare - Winter Bright by Choralis with Julie on timpani.
