Grandview
Victorian Orchestra Biography
The
Grandview Victorian Orchestra, based in the Denver, Colorado plays for
historical events and Victorian Balls throughout the United States and
is proud to be associated with the Single Action Shooting Society.
“We’re delighted to be connected with the warm and sincere
bunch of folks that we’ve met through SASS” said John Reading,
musical director and piano player for the orchestra.
John,
Sue and Tina, the three core members of the orchestra, have been
playing music together for over 12 years. They are best known for their
superb dance music in the Contra dance communities throughout Colorado.
Now their talents for providing authentic historical community dance
music is drawing interest in more venues across the country. Event
planners and attendees are recognizing how quality performances and
attention to musical detail can elevate an event to something to
remember.
Susan
and John Reading and Tina Gugeler under the name of Balance and Swing
have been providing high energy music for the Contra and historical
dance scene, and beautiful music for weddings in Colorado since 1993.
In 1995 they selected to be the regular band for the monthly Colorado
Friends of Oldtime Music and Dance (CFOOTMAD) Zesty Contra dances.
Balance and Swing has performed throughout Colorado at a variety of
festivals and dance camps including the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, the
Peoples Fair, the Renaissance Faire, Westminster Artist Series, Wells
Fargo Culture Fest, and others.
In
the spring of 2002, Balance and Swing met dance caller and historian
Sharon Moore (Miss Tabitha) at an outdoor community dance in Ft.
Collins, CO. During their performance, an exciting synergy
emerged. Sharon recognized that the style of Balance and Swing could
complement her own Victorian Ball events and suggested that Balance and
Swing expand their focus to include more Victorian styles and join with
her for future performances across the nation. The Grandview
Victorian Orchestra was born!
Since
that time, Sharon and the Grandview Victorian Orchestra have performed
together for a number of events including balls for the Cheyenne
Regulators (a SASS chapter), the Arvada Historical Society, Colorado
Springs public schools, and the Sand Creek Raiders (another SASS
Chapter). The Grandview Victorian Orchestra performed at the
SASS National convention in Las Vegas at the Riviera Hotel since 2003 and continues
to be grow in popularity with SASS chapters and Victorian, Colonial and
other historic recreation dance events.
Each
year brings new and different events to the musicians’ schedule.
One of the most exciting of these has been their participation in the
SASS National Convention Victorian Ball in Las Vegas. Another
highlight on the schedule is the annual New Year's Eve Contra dance in
Ft. Collins, CO. 2006 marks the 13th year that
these wonderful musicians are helping to bring in the new year and
promote and preserve the wholesome traditions associated with historical
and community dancing.
Susan
Reading on fiddle, learned to play in New England in the early 70’s.
She had contact with some of the finest fiddlers in that region and has
played consistently with Contra dance bands and traditional musicians
since then. She relocated to Colorado in 1991 with John and became
involved in the traditional music community. Sue has a large
repertoire and enjoys playing anywhere, anytime.
Tina
Gugeler plays hammered dulcimer. Originally from Louisiana, she made her
way to the Denver area after taking the long way around via Ketchikan,
Alaska. Tina started her hammered dulcimer career in Ketchikan in
1986 playing for local Contra dances. In 1992 Tina won the
Colorado State hammered dulcimer championship and in 2000 went on to win
the National Hammered Dulcimer Championship in Winfield, KS. In
addition to her work with BAS, she does solo performances and teaches.
John
Reading as musical director, piano player and business manager has the best of all worlds.
He gets to play with his wife and other great musicians and is rewarded
with the delighted energy that is passed between the orchestra and the
dancers in each performance. John has played many venues and
styles from standard jazz to swing to classical and everything in
between and continues to hone his skills in the period music recreation
arena. If you listen
carefully, you might hear the influence of his life as a jazz musician in
the Boston area or a little blues sneaking in as well.
For
more information, please contact John Reading at 720 840-3552, email gvorch@earthlink.net
or visit the orchestra’s web site at http://home.earthlink.net/~gvorch
