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"There were so many facets to Phil's life, I really struggled with how to pay tribute to him," said Martin Becker recently about his long-time friend, the late Phil Eherenman.
Eherenman, 75, died in his sleep May 3. In excellent health for a man his age, a volunteer organizer and board member of many clubs and organizations, his unexpected death was a shock to people who knew him.
"I wanted to pay a special tribute to a fellow music educator, Optimist, musician and friend and decided a new work for the band would be a fitting and ongoing tribute to Phil," Becker said.
The "band" is the Grace College Community Wind Ensemble, which Becker conducts.
The group performs "Music a la Carte" Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Warsaw Community High School Performing Arts Auditorium. The concert features the tribute to Eherenman.
Eherenman was a teacher and band director for 37 years, 25 years in the Warsaw Community School Corp. system. He was vocal soloist for the First Church of Christ Scientist, Warsaw, a member of Warsaw Community Choir and Grace College Wind Ensemble.
He was a member of Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club and directed the Optimist Singers. He was assistant director of the Lakes Area Band.
Eherenman played the trombone.
Becker contacted Les Taylor, a well-known Hoosier composer and arranger. Taylor agreed to take on the project of an Eherenman tribute.
He arranged "Dedication" based on "Art Song" by Robert Franz (1815-1892). The trombone section features prominently in the work.
The vocal portion of the piece will be sung by members of the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Singers, the WCHS Select Chorale, members of the Warsaw Community Choir, church choir members, Eherenman's former students and friends.
The Taylor commission was paid by the Lake Area Community Band, the Breakfast Optimist Club and donations from individuals. Enough money was collected to start an Optimist-sponsored music scholarship in Eherenman's name. Proceeds from sales of the piece will be added to the scholarship fund.
Becker said singers are welcome to join what is being called the "Friends of Phil Choir."
In addition to the commissioned composition, the concert will feature a new work based on one of the world's most well-known and beloved melodies. "Joyful Exclamations, A Grand Finale" is based on Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, "Ode To Joy" by James l. Hosay. The second half of the concert will feature a "swinging salute" to the big bands and the music of Glen Miller, Benny Goodman, Les Brown, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Duke Ellington and Count Basie.
A pre-concert begins at 7 p.m. featuring the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Singers.
Admission is free and there is no reserved seating.
For more information about singing at the concert, call Becker at 574-834-2112.
