In Concert:
Community Music Groups Working Together

A Newsletter of Southwestern Pennsylvania Band Partners

Summer 2007
Volume 3 Issue 3 
Printable Version in PDF Format

Inside This Issue: 
The Musicians Concert BandBand Directory Additions | Ligonier Concert Series
New Music Corner | Combined Concert Calendar  | Band Websites | Contact US

The Musicians Concert Band
By Mr. Blasé S. Scarnatti.
from Website (http://www.tmcband.com/thoughts.html)
With permission from Jeff Kroner,

Today, community bands in America continue to provide one of the most important on-going sources of musical self-expression for thousands of  talented performers, as well as a vital, exciting kind of entertainment for their listeners. This rich tradition of amateur music making is not only maintaining its strength, a force which reached its peak in the 1920's and 1930's, but has grown and is still growing at a phenomenal pace in the years since 1970.

The Musicians' Concert Band began in 1986 with just 35 members. Under the leadership of Blase S. Scarnati and Michael C. Formeck, it grew to its present membership of more than 90 players and has maintained a large symphonic strength ever since. Sponsorship has been shared for the first eight seasons by Slippery Rock University and the American Federation of Musicians Union, Local 188. In 1993 Local 188 was dissolved leaving Slippery Rock University as the sole sponsor.

Slippery Rock University, beginning with the 1999 Summer Series, now sponsors in-part. The Musicians' Concert band performers come from communities within Butler, Beaver, Mercer, Lawrence, Clarion, Washington, Cambria, Armstrong, Allegheny and Westmoreland counties in Pennsylvania. They are adult, trained musicians who are volunteers, giving their time and talents to make music. Music teachers, former college/university musicians and professional musicians make up a roster that also includes many people who pursue an occupation outside music. The group is a unique blend of these outstanding skills and varied backgrounds. Their motto: "A Commitment to Excellent Music."

In 1992, the band was approved and incorporated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a non-profit organization. The band maintains a board of directors, by-laws, officers, and pledges to make the best possible music for itself and for its listeners, reaffirming its pride in the communities it represents and the talent and strength of its people.

——
The Musicians Concert Band is currently led by Mr. Jeff Kroner as Conductor and Mr. Lew Kroner as Associate Conductor.

For more information browse our website: www.musiciansconcertband.com or e-mail us at: TMCBand@zoominternet.net

Southwestern PA Community Bands (As of September 26, 2006)
There are no updates from the last issue.  If you are aware of community bands in the region that are not yet in the online directory please let them know about us.  We currently have 22 groups listed in our directory from the Southwestern Pennsylvania region.

send email to  newsletter@swpabandpartners.pghfree.net

Concerts on the Diamond in Ligonier: A Tradition
The Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce describes the history of concerts on the Ligonier Diamond in the concert series program and is generalized here. The Ligonier Diamond has been a gathering place of residents and travelers for over a century. In the times of the stagecoach, it was a resting spot along the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Turnpike. It has been said that John Ramsey who owned the land was influenced by town squares from the east and designed the town with the Diamond.

In 1852, the rail road line was completed which led to a decline in stage coach travel thereby changing the use of the diamond. In 1894 the Ligonier Coronet Band built a bandstand as the diamond became more like a park. This bandstand was renovated in the 1920s. During the 1960s the Diamond  underwent a major renovation that was initiated by Richard K. Mellon. A new bandstand modeled after the original was built in 1968.

For the past 57 years the Ligonier Valley chamber of Commerce has coordinated the Sunday Evening Band Concert Series. These concerts are funded by concert goers, organizations, and individuals. They also have received a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Grant Program of the Westmoreland County Department of Parks and Recreation.

The Ligonier of the Diamond venue is one in which many of the community bands in the region are fortunate to perform at. The large audience is always appreciative of a good concert whether the weather is cooperating or not. In cases of poor weather the band and as much of the audience that will fit, moves inside to the Town Hall Auditorium. The music is piped outdoors for those who brave the rain. The 2007 Summer Schedule is listed below. All Concerts are Sunday Evenings at 7pm on the Diamond at Ligonier.


May 27th Ligonier Valley High School Jazz/ Laurel Valley Middle / High School Bands
June 3rd Swing City
June 10th Jeannette Community Band
June 17th Blairsville Community Band
June 24th The Moonlighters Band
July 1st Scottdale Area Concert
July 8th Kiski Valley Community Band
July 15th Graham Grubb Band
July 22nd Syria Temple Band
July 29th Allegheny Brass Band
August 5th East Winds Symphonic Band
August 12th Community Band South
August 19th Delmont Area Concert Band
August 26th Somerset County Community Band

New Music Corner
This section is intended to be a place for conductors and musicians to share information on new music they are playing. If you have something to contribute please email us the information at newsletter@swpabandpartners.pghfree.net. Please include the title, composer/arranger, publisher and a brief description of the piece. Your description might include things like difficulty, instrumentation strengths requirements, style, etc.


Noisy Wheels of Joy
Eric Whitacre
Copyright 2001 by Carpe Ranam Productions

Provided by Susan Sands, East Winds Symphonic Band

"Noisy Wheels of Joy” provides the opportunity for individual players and sections to shine as motives and themes are tossed playfully throughout sections of the band. The use of different instrument timbres, including an assortment of percussion instruments, soprano sax and celeste, adds to the non-stop zany excitement. “Noisy Wheels of Joy” is written in a conventional form with a comic opera overture style that employs three main themes: love, adventure, and buffo. Commissioned by The Band Composers Masterworks Consortium, "Noisy Wheels of Joy" was premiered by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Wind Symphony with Mr. Tad Suzuki conducting on March 8th, 2001 at the American Bandmasters Association National Convention. Although there are many challenges to the ensemble playing, “Noisy Wheels of Joy” is worth the effort in the rewarding responses from the players and the audience.


Combined Calendar
(As of June 26, 2007 for Summer 2007)
For the updates and the entire calendar visit the online calendar

July 2007:

Sun, 1
4pm
East Winds Symphonic Band CCAC Boyce Auditorium, Monroeville
Sun, 1
7pm
Kiski Valley Community Band Kennywood
Sun, 1
10am
Somerset County Concert Band God & Country Service (Somerset Alliance Church)
Sun, 1
7:30pm
Somerset County Concert Band Meyersdale Fourth of July celebration
Sun, 1
7pm
Scottdale Concert Band The Diamond at Ligonier
Wed, 4
7pm
East Winds Symphonic Band Kennywood
Wed, 4
6pm
Somerset County Concert Band Indian Lake Fireworks
Sat, 7
1pm
Somerset County Concert Band Acosta Centennial Celebration
Sun, 8
7pm
Kiski Valley Community Band The Diamond at Ligonier
Sun, 8
7pm
Scottdale Concert Band Scottdale Gazebo
Tue, 10
7pm
Armstrong Concert Band West Kittanning Firehall
Thu, 12
8pm
The Musicians Concert Band Miller Auditorium, Slippery Rock University
Fri, 13
7pm
Blairsville Community Concert Band Marion Center
Sun, 15

Community Band South Bethel Park Community Center, Bethel Park
Sun, 15
3pm
East Winds Symphonic Band Twin Lakes Park, Westmoreland County
Sun, 15
7pm
Armstrong Concert Band Concordia Concert, Cabot PA
Sun, 15
7pm
Somerset County Concert Band Hooversville Historical Society concert
Sun, 22
2pm
Scottdale Concert Band Beth Ann Nursing Home, Ligonier, PA
Sun, 22
3:30pm
Somerset County Concert Band Somerfest (Laurel Arts/Dressler Center)
Tue, 24
7pm
Armstrong Concert Band Crooked Creek Lake Park Ford City
Thu, 26
8pm
The Musicians Concert Band Miller Auditorium, Slippery Rock University
Thu, 26

West Hills Symphonic Band Oakdale
Sat, 28
7pm
Armstrong Concert Band Ford Cliff Boro Building
Sun, 29
7pm
Allegheny Brass Band The Diamond at Ligonier
Sun, 29
5pm
Somerset County Concert Band Roxbury Band Shell (Johnstown)
Sun, 29

Blairsville Community Concert Band Saints Simon and Jude Church Festival

August 2007:
Fri, 3
8pm
Allegheny Brass Band St. Alexis Church Festival, Wexford, PA
Sat, 4
7pm
Somerset County Concert Band Shanksville Community Picnic
Sun, 5
7pm
East Winds Symphonic Band The Diamond at Ligonier
Sun, 5
3:30pm
Allegheny Brass Band Bethel Park, PA, Community Center
Sun, 5
10:30am
Aeolian Winds of Pittsburgh Bach, Beethoven, & Brunch, Mellon Park, Pittsburgh
Thu, 9
8pm
The Musicians Concert Band Miller Auditorium, Slippery Rock University
Thu, 9
8pm
Allegheny Brass Band Cranberry Township (PA) Park
Sun, 12
7pm
Community Band South The Diamond at Ligonier
Sun, 12
1pm
Somerset County Concert Band Central City Heritage Festival
Sat, 18
8pm
Edgewood Symphony Orchestra Edgewood Community Days at Koenig Field, Edgewood
Sat, 18
6pm
Somerset County Concert Band Hidden Valley Homeowners
Sat, 18
11:30am
Blairsville Community Concert Band Diamond Days
Sat, 18
8pm
Edgewood Symphony Orchestra Koenig Field, Edgewood
Sun, 19
10am
Somerset County Concert Band Trinity Lutheran Church (Somerset)
Sun, 19
7pm
Scottdale Concert Band Loucks Park, Scottdale, PA
Sun, 19
7pm
Delmont Concert Band
The Diamond at Ligonier
Thu, 23
6:30pm
Blairsville Community Concert Band Blairsville Community Center Park
Fri, 24
7:30pm
Allegheny Brass Band Moon Township (PA) Park
Sat, 25

Community Band South John McMillan Presbyterian Church
Sun, 26
7pm
Somerset County Concert Band The Diamond at Ligonier


September  2007:
Sat, 8
7:30pm
Allegheny Brass Band McCandless Township Community Day
Sun, 9
3pm
Allegheny Brass Band Saxonburg (PA) Arts Festival
Sun, 9
1pm
2:30pm
Edgewood Symphony Orchestra A Fair in the Park, Mellon Park, Pittsburgh
Tue, 11

Somerset County Concert Band Flight 93 Memorial Service
Sat, 15
3pm
Scottdale Concert Band Geyer Theater, Scottdale, PA
Sun, 16
1pm
Kiski Valley Community Band Freeport Gazebo
Thu, 27

Aeolian Winds of Pittsburgh The Art of Wine & Food to benefit HEARTH, National Aviary
Sat, 29

Scottdale Concert Band Dunbar, PA  Community Festival
Sun, 30
2:30pm
Somerset County Concert Band Whiskey Rebellion (Berlin) 



Contacting Us:

Southwestern Pennsylvania Band Partners is dedicated to helping community music groups in the southwestern Pennsylvania Region. 
Please visit us online at the address below to learn more or become involved.
    http://swpabandpartners.pghfree.net

Regional Bands with websites (for updated list visit the links page)

Aeolian Winds http://www.aeolianwinds.com/
Allegheny Brass Band http://www.alleghenybrassband.com/
Armstrong Concert Band http://www.geocities.com/armconband
Blairsville Community Concert Band http://www.bccband.com/
Butler County Symphony
http://www.butlerarts.org/symphony/
Community Band South http://cbs.pghfree.net/
East Winds Symphonic Band http://www.ewsb.org/
Edgewood Symphony http://www.edgewoodsymphony.org
Harmony-Zelienople Community Band http://www.hzcb.org
Harrisville Community Band http://www.harrisvilleband.com/
Jeannette Community Band http://www.jcbweb.com/
Kiski Valley Community Band http://www.kvcb.net
Kittanning Firemen's Band http://www.kfband.com/
Musicians Concert Band http://www.tmcband.com/default.htm
North Pittsburgh Philharmonic http://www.northpghphilharmonic.org/
North Suburban Symphonic Band http://www.nssband.org/
Ohio Valley Community Band http://www.geocities.com/ovcband
Pine Creek Community Band http://www.pinecreekband.com/
Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra http://www.artsnet.org/pco/
Resurrection Band http://www.boro.zelienople.pa.us/band.htm
Scottdale Concert Band http://www.scottdaleband.com/
Somerset County Community Band
http://www.somersetcounty.com/band
Washington Symphonic Orchestra http://www.washsym.org/
West Hills Symphonic Band http://www.whsb.org/
Westmoreland Symphonic Winds http://www.wswinds.org/


Contributing to the newsletter
Everyone is welcome to contribute an article to the newsletter.  The topic is up to you—something you think your fellow musicians would be interested in. Just email your article to:
newsletter@swpabandpartners.pghfree.net

For additions to the website email:
info@swpabandpartners.pghfree.net

In the next newsletter
In our next newsletter due out in early October you will find:


Editors
Sarah McElfresh,  East Winds Symphonic Band
Scott McElfresh, East Winds Symphonic Band
Kathy Wikowski, Allegheny Brass Band,  North Suburban Symphonic Band

July 1, 2007