Natalie Miller, an integral part of our marketing and business development team here at VIP and past member of both the West Genesee Wildcat Marching Band and the high school’s Wind Ensemble, has taken part in the West Genesee Wildcat Alumni Marching Band reunion multiple times since graduating. The Alumni Association gathers once every 5 years for a weekend reunion ending with a performance in the Camillus Memorial Day Parade.
An accomplished flutist, Natalie recently performed at West Genesee High School as a member of the Camillus Community Band (CCB). The CCB has been a long-time dream of Natalie’s high school band instructor, Andy Perry. Mr. Perry has inspired so many Wildcat graduates and other musicians throughout the community to continue playing which has culminated in the creation of the 70+ member concert band.
In preparation for their concert debut Natalie, along with her fellow musicians, met once a week starting in late January to prepare for the March 20th concert. The evening’s performance in front of a large crowd featured a variety of entertaining songs including contemporary compositions, a John Philip Sousa march, a Civil War-inspired medley, a tribute to the Beatles and soundtrack highlights from the big screen.
They held their second concert on May 15th and performed an assortment of pieces including music from Disney’s Tarzan and Frozen, the patriotic National Emblem and The Ascension (based on Dante’s The Divine Comedy). The band is off for the summer, resuming again in the fall with 4 concerts planned for 2017-2018.