Summer Band Series

 The Centenary College Summer Band Concerts kick off Tuesday, June 14 for a series of three outdoor concerts at the Hargrove Memorial Amphitheatre. The Summer Band Concert series has been a staple since 1957 when B.P. Causey, then director of bands at the College established the series comprised of local professional musicians. For more than 30 years, the ensemble performed at the band shell, with audiences ranging from 500 to 3,000 concertgoers. The concerts was a summertime staple in Shreveport until 1987 when the tradition ended due to Mr. Causey’s advanced age and lack of funding.

The series was revived in 2000 when Mr. Causey’s son, Bill Jr., and Dr. Stone, produced and reestablished the Centenary Summer Band Concert Series with financial backing area businesses. According to Stone, a renewed series of concerts provided the public with the opportunity to hear concert music of high quality performed by top-flight musicians. With a “concert in the park atmosphere,” music has been selected from a variety of styles, including marches, Broadway show tunes, overtures, tone poems, and solo works with band accompaniment.

So, bring a lawn chair, blanket or sit in the bleacher seating at the "Shell" for this traditional summertime favorite!

Additional concerts will take place Tuesday, June 21 and Tuesday, June 28. All concerts begin at 8 p.m. The concerts are free and open to the community.

The first concert on June 14 will feature Dr. Tom Ticich on Accordion performing Tico Tico and Jalousie, both standards for the instrument. Dr. Ticich is a member of the Centenary faculty and is the Chair of the Chemistry Department.

The concerts continue Tuesday, June 21 when Centenary College trumpet instructor Mike Scarlato performs with his former student Clay Mills '11, on Antonio Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Trumpets. The concert will also feature works by the late American Composer Clifton Williams. Postwar Prelude and Caprice Americana are new publications from the pen of Williams, played here for the first time since the 1940s.

The composer's daughter, Michelle, will be in attendance. Williams, who died in 1976, left a great legacy of published works for band, but the family has only recently permitted publication of his early compositions.

The final concert will take place Tuesday, June 28 and feature Centenary College student Lindsey Fileccia singing "Just Leave Everything to Me" and "He Touched Me." Additionally, to celebrate the July 4th season, patriotic music honoring America and a narration of Aaron Copeland’s Lincoln Portrait by Centenary’s Director of Community and Intercultural Engagement, Chris Lavan will be featured. The narration showcases the speeches of the sixteenth president in a stirring musical tribute.

The Centenary College Summer Band Concert Series is sponsored by AEP Swepco, Ark-La-Tex Cardiology, Dr. & Mrs. John E. Stone, and an anonymous Foundation grant through Bankcorpsouth. The Summer Band series is conducted by Dr. Thomas Stone, professor of music at Centenary College. For more information, call 318.869.5238.

Centenary Receives Presidential Honor for Community Service

Today Centenary College of Louisiana announced its selection for the 2010 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. Centenary has received the honor for five years in a row since the program started in 2006.

The annual honor recognizes colleges for a demonstrated commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement. The Honor Roll is an initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that oversees national service and promotes volunteerism.

“This is a tremendous honor for Centenary to be named again to this list of colleges and universities who take pride in developing student leaders through service to their communities,” said Chris Lavan, Centenary’s Director of Community and Intercultural Engagement and alumnus of the school. “We continuously engage our students in a way that integrates living, learning, and action, and therefore helps them to learn more about themselves and their community through the act of “giving back.”

“Centenary students dive into community service with a passion that’s inspiring,” said Centenary’s Vice President for Student Development Betsy Eaves. “Whether helping prepare tax returns for local residents or cleaning up area neighborhoods, our students know what it means to serve the community – and in the process, they learn more about themselves.”

Each year Centenary faculty, students, alumni, and friends participate in the Big Event. The Big Event is a student-led, large scale, day of service which unites Centenary with its surrounding neighbors to build relationships, express gratitude, and enhance the community that has supported the college for over one-hundred years.

At the BIG Event, students, faculty, staff, and alumni all come together to act as neighbors helping neighbors. Together, we work to beautify the surrounding neighborhoods of Centenary College, to show our gratitude for their support of our community, and to allow us to give back and connect with the Shreveport community. Volunteers have the opportunity to choose from various helpful activities, including exterior home improvement, basic landscaping, and inside services.

Throughout the year the College and its Students participate in not only the Big Event but several community service projects such as renovations, mission trips, fundraiser events, community events, etc to support the surrounding community and the College's missions statement.

We hope that our service and dedication inspires you and prompts you to check out what we have to offer at Centenary and WHY we are who we are!