For 30 years, Solano Winds has been an institution in Solano County. Ever since, Bill Doherty has been behind the scenes and center stage, bringing the group to life.
His 17th and final season as Artistic and Music Director comes to a close on May 2 in the season’s closing concert, “Favorites.”
Leading up to the concert, Doherty feels a mix of excitement tinged with a hint of the bittersweet. Before he became music director, he was a founding member and trumpet player. Next season he will start a new chapter as a trumpet player once again.
However, parts of his job he’ll miss. Mainly, picking the music for each Solano Winds concert. “Although this concert is, you know, called ‘Favorites,’ anything we ever play is one of my favorites,” he laughs.
The concert will feature nine different pieces, a selection of Doherty’s favorite songs from over the years. Some were chosen for their melody, while others for their personal significance, he says.
The second song, “La Belle Hélène Overture” by Jacques Offenbach was selected for the former. “It has this thing where the meters go back and forth, and it’s almost like one theme keeps interrupting the other until one of them actually wins out, and it’s just done in such an understated and fun way,” says Doherty.
A later piece, “Solano Winds Heritage” by local composer Melvin Brito was chosen for its direct ties to Doherty. In addition to being composed by a former student of his, “Solano Winds Heritage” was commissioned by Doherty’s wife in 2020 and features melodies from family songs.
“When the piece was premiered a couple years ago it was a very unique experience, because they placed me in the front row of the audience. That is not a place I’m used to being in,” he laughs. On May 2, he’ll be conducting the piece for the band to play.
With love from the Solano Winds community and a consistent passion for playing, it may be difficult to understand why Doherty would step down. “Like anything else with this, there’s no real simple answer,” he says.
Part of his decision was because of a desire to leave the role while still in his prime, part of it was wanting to play more in the trumpet section instead of conduct and another part was hoping to spend more time with his three young grandkids, he says.
When asked where he hopes to see Solano Winds grow in the future, Doherty laughed, saying “‘Well, my first reaction is ‘that’s not my job to worry about anymore.”
That is the job of the new director, of course, who will be announced at the upcoming concert.
Although their name has not been released, Doherty says “he’s a fabulous conductor,” with a focus on community. “He wants to kind of come in and really immerse himself in our culture first and kind of see where things go with that,” said Doherty.
Overall, Doherty is excited to close out his time as music director, he says. “Obviously you do something for 30 years and it’s become a big part of my life, and it’s still going to be a big part of my life. This is going to be the next chapter.”
If you go …
- WHAT: Solano Winds “Favorites”
- WHEN: May 2, 7:30 p.m.
- WHERE: Downtown Theatre, 1035 Texas St., Fairfield.
