The Williamsport Consistory Imperial Teteque Band, which is a local band founded in 1897, has appointed a new music director, Lance C. Ohnmeiss, 29, of Williamsport. He also is the conductor of the Teteque Band and Imperials Dance Band.
Ohnmeiss is an alumnus of San Francisco State University. He holds a bachelor's of music degree with an emphasis in music education. Ohnmeiss had played with and has guest conducted several ensembles in the San Francisco Bay Area. He was the principle horn for the College of San Mateo Symphonic Band and the San Francisco State University Orchestra. Ohnmeiss also had the pleasure of being the associate principle horn for the Pleasanton Community Band in Pleasanton, Calif. Ohnmeiss also was a guest condutor and clinician for the Daly City Community Band in Daly City, Calif. In addition to playing the horn, Ohnmeiss also plays the trumpet and is an accomplished bagpiper. Ohnmeiss served as co-founder and pipe sergeant of the former Stanislaus County Sheriff's Pipe Band in Modesto, Calif., where he competed all across the state of California. As a music educator, clinician and conductor, Ohnmeiss has had the pleasure of working with school groups throughout North America and the West Coast. He has taught clinics for Mount Boucherie Secondary School in West Kelowna, British Columbia, John F. Kennedy High School, Los Angeles, CAlifornia and many other schools involved with the Northern California Band Association. Ohnmeiss also has taught at the Silverlake Band Camp in northern California.
Ohnmeiss' passion for teaching music and his drive and commitment to enriching the lives of the people he works with has allowed him to share his talents by instructing marching band at Livermore High School in Livermore, Calif., for two years and working as assistant to the band director at Antioch High School in Antioch, Calif., for three years. While at San Francisco State University, Ohnmeiss was student conductor of the San Francisco State University Gator Band, the university's pep band. Ohnmeiss relocated to the williamsport area last year and in addition to working with the Williamsport Consistory Imperial Teteques plays horn currently with the Repasz Band.
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Ohnmeiss had his debut with the Teteque Band at the 2012 spring concert as their assistant conductor and will be leading the band at the annual winter concert being presented at 3 p.m. Dec. 16 in the Scottish Rite Auditorium, 348 N. Market St.
Teteque Band to perform annual winter concert
The annual winter concert of the Scottish Rite Imperial Teteque Band will be presented at 3 p.m. Dec. 16 in the Scottish Rite Auditorium, 348 N. Market St.
Lance C. Ohnmeiss, newly appointed musical director of the band, has assembled a rousing traditional holiday pops program titled "Season's Greetings."
The band intends to open its concert in the traditional Imperial Teteque style, with a new concert opener arranged by Ohnmeiss, followed by "Overture to a Winter Celebration," arranged by James M. Stephenson. After that, the band will perform "Sleigh Ride" by Leroy Anderson, then "Suite from the Nutcracker," arranged by James Curnow, which will be followed by "A Celebration of Hanukkah," arranged by Howard Rowe. The last piece in the first half of the concert is "March Gate City" by A.F. Weldon.
After a short intermission, the band will resume its concert with "Parade of the Wooden Soliders" by Leon Jessel, followed by select movements from Norman Dello Joio's "Scenes from the Louvre," a piece that was written for the 1965 NBC television mini series of the same title. "A Christmas Festival" by Leroy Anderson will proceed that performance and in keeping with the town band tradition, the band will represent two works by John Philip Sousa on the second half of the concert - one traditional march, titled "Ancient and Honorable Artillery Co.," and concluding the concert with a slightly surprising twist on a Teteque tradition.
Considered one of the oldest Masonic affiliated bands in the world, The Williamsport Consistory Imperial Teteque has included masons and non-masons for many decades, as well as musicians from a wide range of ages and musical backgrounds. The band is always looking for new members in all sections and welcomes anyone interested in playing.
There is no admission price for the performance. For more information, call the Scottish Rite office at 323-6294 or email imperi al.teteques.conductor@gmail.com.
