Community Band to celebrate 20 years
The Orcas Island Community Band turns 20 this year! Band members under the direction of Joe Babcock will play a selection of works by American Composers this Friday evening at 7:30 p.m.
A few lucky band members have been with the band since its inception or shortly thereafter.
“It really feels like just yesterday,” said Karen Key Speck, band officer and member for fifteen years. “There’s a real sense of kinship when I look at the people in the band who’ve been there as long as me. We care about each other and support one another.
And we’ve grown older together,” chuckles Speck.
Nothing would make the Band happier than to have a full house for the first of its two formal anniversary-year concerts, Friday, June 4th at 7:30 p.m at Orcas Center. (The second is in December.) Speck said, “I think the band’s biggest reward is when someone who has never seen us at one of our Orcas Center concerts attends for the first time. They always state with enthusiasm that they had no idea such a good band exists right here on our island and that they had a lot of fun.” This concert will be the first time the Community Band has ever had a guest solo singer. Local songstress Grace McCune will be featured.
Current band members John Evans (clarinet) and Russ Harvey (trumpet) are founding musicians who began playing music in the garage of Marlin Brown in the Orcas/Rosario Highlands in 1990. “It’s fun to see Marlin Brown’s name on some sheet music the band still plays today. And it’s neat to know my music career began right here on Orcas Island in the Orcas public school system. Here’s to another 20 years, ” said Harvey.
For years the only entertainment available was the making of music. Whether is was people singing on their front porches, or attending a dance, or going to the town pavilion to hear the John Philip Sousa Band – music was the way to gather with your friends and neighbors.
“Sure it takes some effort and planning to not stay at home on the couch this Friday night, but you won’t regret it and you can’t beat no admission charge, ” said Speck.
The Orcas Island Community Band invites everyone to attend their concert this Friday, June 4th at 7:30pm at Orcas Center. Admission by donation.
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