Susan M. Topping (2023) | Jane Goodrich (2021) | Dr. Jason Smith (2020) | John Lepprandt (2017) | Dr. Earle Louder (2008)
2023 Special Medallion Recipient Susan M. Topping
As Treasurer for the Falcone Festival, Sue contributed her CPA skills in managing the financial aspects of the Festival. She completed necessary reports, both state and federal, and ad hoc reports as needed. Perhaps one of her main jobs was to remind the board to keep expenses within income! Each year following making the payments to Festival judges (preliminary round and at the Festival) and the awards to the twelve Festival medalists, she issued all necessary tax related paperwork to those participants.
Sue was also the “go-to” person at the Festival for all the logistical details for the contestants. She made sure that accompanist fees were paid, gathered all the personal information (name, person to inform in case of problems, any dietary restrictions or allergies, etc.), as well as how each planned to arrive (driving, flying) and if flying, details of day, time, airline and flight number, plus total in their party arriving.
Her involvement with the Falcone Festival was natural, as she had taken lessons on the euphonium from Dr. Falcone when still a high school student. She has continued playing her instrument throughout her adult life. A long-time resident of the greater Lansing area and East Lansing in particular, Sue has been involved with many organizations, both as CPA and volunteer. Early in 2023 Sue experienced a medical emergency and had to step back from her responsibilities with the Festival and other involvements. During her time of recovery, she has very much appreciated all the cards, texts, phone calls, from everyone! She continues to improve her physical strength and overall health.
On Wednesday, August 16, 2023, a group of five board members were able to visit Sue Topping in East Lansing, MI, as she continued her recuperation. She was presented with an honorary gold medallion in recognition of all her contributions to the Festival over 28 years of service.
Pictured: Front Row (Left to right): Laura Topping, Sue Topping; Back Row (Left to right): Phil Sinder, Abby Zarimba, Scott Myckowiak, Jane Goodrich, and Douglas Goodrich. Photo by Dave Topping
Thank you, Sue!
Jane Goodrich Awarded Special Gold Medallion for More Than 25 Years of Service
On August 7, 2021, Falcone Festival president Philip Sinder was able to present a special festival gold medallion to Jane Goodrich, in recognition of her numerous contributions to the success of the Festival for over 25 years. As a member of our board of directors and executive committee, Jane continues to be an integral wheel in our internal operations, and a leader regarding our external visibility.
It may come as a surprise that Jane is not only not a low brass player, but not any kind of brass player. Her instrument of choice is the flute, which she has played for the last forty-plus years in the Lansing Concert Band (and for another twenty-odd years in other venues). She came to the Festival primarily because her husband Doug, a euphonium player, was invited to attend some of the concerts by fellow low brass players in the Lansing Concert Band who were on the Falcone board. Both Goodriches were recruited to become members of the board and since have been integrally involved with the Festival.
Jane currently heads our preliminary application process, which includes working to be surethat the registration system is up to date and ready to open for applications, and that application uploads work with no issues. She answers applicant questions, ensures that adjudicators can access the preliminary round recordings, and sends each applicant notification of results. She also serves as board secretary, helps to coordinate our Festival website, works on the annual program, and chimes in as one of the Falcone Festival “elves.”
For her organization skills, knowledge of festival history and operations, concern for the continued growth and health of the festival, and commitment to the low brass world – we happily honor her with the Falcone Festival Gold Medallion!
Dr. Jason Smith Receives Special Award during 2020 Virtual Festival
At the 2020 Virtual Falcone Festival, Board President Philip Sinder announced that a special gold medallion was being awarded to Dr. Jason Smith. The presentation took place online during the Virtual Festival. Jason currently serves as Professor of Tuba/Euphonium at Ohio University School of Music. He has taught at Ohio University for 21 years and is a founding member of OhioBrass, Ohio University’s faculty-artist brass quintet. Jason has adjudicated for the International Tuba Euphonium Association (ITEA), served from 2002 to 2011 as Chief Editor for the ITEA Journal, and currently serves on its Board of Directors and coordinates ITEAonline.org. He has also adjudicated at the Falcone Festival.
Jason is greatly appreciated for creating the online registration program for the Falcone Festival solo competition, beginning with the 2017 Festival. He has continued to maintain and update the site, as well as expand the features of this program. In addition, Jason developed and monitored the system for collecting entries for the 2020 Falcone Festival Solo Works Composition Competition.
He played a major role behind the scenes of our 2020 Virtual Festival by creating the program that collected the videos for the two semi-final and final rounds from the participating semi-finalists.
The entire low brass community joins the Falcone Festival in honoring Jason for all of his contributions!
John Leipprandt Awarded Special Gold Medallion for 30 Years of Service
On November 1, 2017, John Leipprandt was presented a Falcone medallion in honor of his years of service to the Falcone Festival. The presentation took place at the fall concert of the Bay Concert Band in Bay City, MI, where he has been a member for more than 40 years. Assisting Falcone Past Vice President Tom Broka (at the lectern, below left) with the presentation were Falcone board members Abby Zarimba and Seanne Danielak (from right to left). In John's work behind the scenes at the Falcone Festival, he has played such roles as treasurer and "chief elf". It was a special treat for us to surprise John this way, by presenting the medallion at the concert in front of his many friends. (Below right: John checks out the medallion.)
John graduated from Michigan State University and played euphonium in band with Earle Louder under Leonard Falcone. His engineering career was with GM, but his avocation has always been music, specifically playing euphonium. In addition to playing with the Bay Concert Band, he co-founded The German Connection with Tom Broka in 2000, which played gigs in the Bay City for fifteen years, and he has travelled with the MSU Alumni Band on several of their international concert tours. His love of music has led to his support of the Brass Band of Battle Creek in addition to the Falcone Festival.
We congratulate John and thank him for all he has meant to the Falcone Festival. His contributions to the Festival are much appreciated by all the contestants and committee members.
Presentation of the medallion John checks out the medallion
Dr. Earle Louder: Good Friend to the Festival and Euphoniums Everywhere
In 2008,
Dr. Earle Louder was selected as the first recipient of a special Falcone medallion to honor his 20 years of service to the Festival in a variety of capacities, including as judge, teacher, and music coordinator. Unfortunately, Dr. Louder was unable to attend the 2008 Festival, as he was in Columbus, Ohio, conducting the All-Ohio State Fair Band at that time.
Earle studied euphonium at Michigan State University under the tutelage of Leonard Falcone. He earned his doctoral degree at Florida State University, where he achieved the distinction of being the first person ever to complete the Doctor of Music degree in Euphonium Performance. For twelve years, 
he played principal Euphonium and was head of the brass department with the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, DC, before serving as Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Morehead State University in Kentucky. He has been a premier soloist, as well as teacher and mentor to hundreds of students and artists.
In Earle’s words: “It has always been my honor to be a part of honoring my mentor and friend, Dr. Leonard Falcone, by serving as adjudicator, teacher, and music coordinator since 1988. Tell everyone that ‘The Earle of Louder’ says ‘Hello’ and that he loves you all.”
| The Leonard Falcone International Euphonium and Tuba Festival mourns the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Earle Louder, on May 26, 2021. All of us celebrate his artistry and lifelong commitment to music, and will miss his camaraderie, his resonant bass voice, and his wise counsel in all facets of music and life. |
The internment for Earle Louder was held on June 21, 2022, at the Tallahassee (FL) National Cemetery with members of his family in attendance. The folded American flag was presented by the U.S. Navy Honor Guard to Earle’s wife, Louise. Photos (clockwise from left) Cemetary with flag at half mast; US Navy Honor Guard folding flag; Presentation of flag to Earle's wife; Earle's photo and hats.
