December 20, 2005

American Music Review gets surprise gift of Caribbean cruise

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Music Review Director William D. "Bill" Kisinger received a surprise Christmas gift from band alumnus Bob Kowalski of Elgin, Ill., who wrote a check for $20,000 so Kisinger could take his Purdue big band on a performance cruise with Royal Caribbean before he retires in June 2006.

"It's important to me to give something back to the band because it was a big part of who I am today," said Kowalski, a 1979 graduate who is now president of Creative Electronics and Software in South Elgin, Ill.

Kowalski, a former clarinet player in the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band and various concert bands including the Purdue Symphonic Band, traveled to Venezuela and Canada while in in the band under Kisinger. Kowalski served as head of the Purdue Bands' clothing office and met his wife Kathy, also a clarinet player, through band. The couple's daughter, Janet, is now a senior viola player in the Purdue Symphony Orchestra.

Even though Kowalski graduated before Kisinger created the American Music Review big band with singers in 1982, he specifically wanted his gift to fund one last trip for Kisinger, who has logged 37 years working with students and bands at Purdue and has traveled all over the globe with Purdue ensembles.

In the mid-1980s, the early heydays of the American Music Review, the ensemble went on four straight cruises on the Chandris line, now renamed Celebrity.

Changing times and finances made it impossible to mount the cruise performance tours until Kowalski's gift, Kisinger said.

"It caught me totally by surprise but it was a very pleasant surprise," he said. "It's extremely gratifying that a band alum would step up and donate a huge sum so I could take one final trip with a band."

The American Music Review, made up of 20 student musicians and four singers, will take a five-day cruise on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas leaving May 7 out of Miami. The band will perform at least one show while at sea.

Things have changed a lot since the band made its initial cruises in the 1980s, Kisinger said.

"The ships had fewer amenities and were much smaller then; most had around 500 passengers," he said. "The Explorer of the Seas carries 3,100. The other major difference between then and now is the RCL performance venue, which has a fabulous stage complete with wireless microphones, state of the art sound system, laser lighting and an auditorium which comfortably seats about 2000."

However, some things remain the same.

"Our group has a good time no matter what kind of ship we're on," said Kisinger, who's looking forward to showing off his current musicians. "It's extremely rewarding to take this wonderful group because American Music Review is as good as it has ever been."

Writer: Kathy Matter, Purdue Bands public relations director, (765) 496-6785, kcmatter@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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Purdue University Bands

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