Vol 4 No 5, May 2010
©2010 Salt Lake Vienna Waltz Association
"But when the wearied Band
Swoons to a waltz, I take her hand,
And there we sit in peaceful calm,
Quietly sweating palm to palm."
Aldous Huxley
Waltz season is over, but we still can’t get the sound of a live orchestra out of our heads. We attended Salt Lake
Symphony’s final concert of the season, May 22, “Salt Lake Symphony Swings” featuring the Jerry Floor Quartet.
There, we heard a great song to foxtrot to, “Memories of You,” by Eubie Blake and arranged by saxophonist Tommy
Newsom. Afterward, we downloaded the song via iTunes and now have it to practice with.
You may remember Newsom as the droll substitute band director on Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show” whenever
bandleader Doc Severinsen was away. Newsom also sub’d for Carson sidekick Ed McMahon occasionally. I’d never
known him as an arranger, but five of the symphony’s pieces that night credited Newsom. The Floor quartet was
very talented too, and I plan to keep an ear open for its schedule. Jerry Floor played clarinet that evening, but like
Newsom, he also plays saxophone. He is currently working on headquartering The Gershwin Academy in Salt Lake
City.
Salt Lake Symphony concerts at Libby Gardner Concert Hall, University of Utah, are a bargain. 2009-2010 tickets
were only $10, and 2010-2011 prices should be similar. The all-volunteer orchestra works very hard ─ its
performances are first class ─ and several of the musicians also task the symphony’s non-music operations.
Principal violist Louise Matthews received an award that evening, and my jaw dropped as her resumé was read.
Junior high school violinists like me wouldn’t stand a chance.
The symphony is offering eight concerts next season, beginning Oct. 9 and running through May 21. The May 21
concert “American Roots” sounds especially appealing, and features Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring,” Calvin
Taylor’s “Choral Fantasia on Deep River,” and local artist Kurt Bestor’s “Timpanogos.”
In addition, our favorite evening of waltz, Salt Lake Symphony’s Annual Vienna Ball happens Feb. 12. See you
there! See www.saltlakesymphony.org/ for additional information.
Finally, congratulations to Utah dancer Derek Hough and his partner Pussycat Doll singer Nicole Scherzinger for
winning ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” (DWTS) ballroom competition, May 25. This was Hough’s second win in the
program’s 10-year history.
Also, a special congratulation goes to the Utah Valley University Ballroom Dance team for winning the show’s first
college championship. UVU bested better known schools such as Rutgers and Purdue.
I’ve mentioned before how Utah consistently produces top-level dancers and dance teams. No fewer than four Utah
dance professionals partnered with their celebrity “stars” on this season’s program. Hough’s sister Julianne has also
won DWTS competitions twice. And school dance teams such as BYU’s and UVU’s can compete evenly with and
even above schools commonly noted as having superior dance programs such as Stanford University.