Editor’s note: While Sapulpa Times does it’s best to focus on events that are pertinent to Sapulpa and Creek County, we’ll occasionally bring in events that are representative of our town in some way. This particular tribute to Paris York is about a far-reaching influence to band directors all across Northeast Oklahoma, including our own George Brite, who led the Sapulpa Chieftain Band for a number of years.
On Sunday, September 18, 3:00pm at the Lorton Performance Center on the University of Tulsa campus, the Tulsa Community Band will present a tribute concert for one of Oklahoma’s most beloved high school band directors, Paris York, who passed away in June, 2015.
This concert will feature the world premiere of “Sweet Beulah Land”, a piece commissioned in tribute to Paris York, who was the original founder of the “Pride Of Broken Arrow” marching, concert, and jazz bands. Paris was a 1997 inductee to the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame, a charter member of the National Association of Jazz Educators in Oklahoma, and was the first recipient of the Oklahoma Music Educators Association “Lifetime Achievement Award.”
“We felt a tribute to Paris was long overdue, not only because of his many years as Associate Conductor Emeritus of the Tulsa Community Band, but also his years of inspiration and leadership to students, teachers, and administrators all across the state Oklahoma,” says Ted Bachmann, conductor of the Tulsa Community Band.
“Sweet Beulah Land” is a concert band composition that is based on the well-known gospel hymn from around 1876 that was favorite of Paris’. The Tulsa Community Band, along with additional contributors, commissioned Steve Vento, Kansas City, MO, to compose the piece. Mr. Vento is a former Assistant Band Director at Broken Arrow High School as well as a former Director of Bands at Tulsa Community College. A friend of Paris York, he now composes music full-time and works with competitive marching bands across the country.
In addition, the Tulsa Community Band will feature several of the favorite wind band compositions Paris York enjoyed to play and conduct.
Paris York also founded The Music Store in 1972. To this day, The Music Store serves band directors and band students in Northeast Oklahoma, as well as local and professional musicians. “This tribute to my dad is a heartfelt honor to me and the entire York family,“ says Larry York, President of The Music Store and son of Paris York.
The concert on September 18th, 3:00pm is free for the public to attend.
