Escanaba City Band celebrates 100 years of playing music
ESCANABA, Mich. (WJMN) – Members of the Escanaba City Band are getting ready to celebrate its 100th anniversary this year with special events, recognition and performances.
According to the city band, the band held its first organizational meeting on March 19, 1924, at the Escanaba City Hall. They have been playing ever since.
““It’s pretty amazing that something like that could be a part of our community for 100 years straight,” said City Band Director Bruce Cassell. “Just think of all the things that the city has gone through in the last 100 years and the Escanaba City Band has been right there with it. It’s pretty amazing.”
The actual birth date of the city band was recently discovered in an archived article of the Daily Press. Escanaba City Band says in a press release that an article in the paper on March 18, 1924, referred to an organizational meeting the next day, March 19, to form the band.
“That was the date, what is now the Escanaba City Band, had their first organizational meeting at city hall with a gentleman named Joseph H. Greenfield, who was the first conductor of the band,” said Amy Chown, chair of the Centennial Celebration Committee.
Greenfield was a widely known director and music teacher who had just returned from England. The article said he was joined by some of Escanaba’s finest musicians.
The article went on to say that the band would hold regular rehearsals with performances throughout the summer.
“Having a local civic organization, like the band that we have, is not something you typically see in every town across America. We are very fortunate to have the rich, cultural organizations that we have in this town that really brings music as a centerpiece in Ludington Park, in downtown Escanaba, at the arrival of the Honor Flight at the airport and tree lighting,” Chown said.
The age of the band ranges from 18 to 93. As the oldest member of the band, John Chown said it is important to recognize that a town of Escanaba’s size continues to have a band that is active and getting stronger.
“I look forward to the city band practices, I look forward to the concerts, I look forward to everything, even the parades,” said the elder Chown. “It’s just a part of my life and it’s part of a lot of people’s life, listening to the band.”
Andrea Sullivan has been with the band for 55 years, over half of the time the city band has been in existence. She plays clarinet and serves as the band’s business manager.
“I just love playing for people, seeing the reaction of the people in the audience and the kids dancing. It’s just fun,” she said.
Amy Chown said the band is going to have a busy summer during its 100th anniversary.
After practices start in May, the band’s first concert Ludington Park is June 19. However, they begin by playing for the Escanaba Public Library Ice Cream Social and Escanaba Elks Flag Day program the week before.
During the regular concert on July 24, the city band will formally celebrate its 100th anniversary.
“We will officially celebrate our anniversary, we will celebrate the city band and we will have a reception for the community,” Chown said.
The band is looking for sponsors to help offset the cost of the celebration.
The mayor of Escanaba, Mark Ammel, who is a former member of the band, will present a proclamation in honor of the band.
Cassell said the city band has been a good promotional part of the city, playing at parades in other communities and for visitors in Ludington Park. With the band turning 100 on March 19, he said the city band continues to strive to entertain and represent the community.
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