Organizers seek area musicians for band

Area schools and music stores are helping to find instruments.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Break out the cymbals and dust off the tubas, there's a community concert band in the making.
The Buhl Park Concert Band is recruiting musicians from the Shenango and Mahoning valleys to play this summer at the park. Organizers say they are trying to provide an outlet for musicians and some entertainment for the community.
"I think there are a lot of people who were musicians in high school or college, and they don't have the opportunity to play anymore," said Judy Mindicino, Buhl Farm development director, and one of the band organizers and participants.
No auditions
Mindicino, who plays the flute and piccolo, said they are looking for a full instrumental band from flutes to percussionists. She said there isn't an audition process, they are just seeking people with a musical background interested in being part of a group.
She said eventually the band will play everything from patriotic music to show tunes. They intend to start rehearsal in January, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of every month.
Mindicino said they hope to be ready to perform by June.
"We are really just looking for anyone with a background in music and who is interested in playing," she said.
Mindicino said they expect to start small and hope to grow. She points to the Mercer Community Concert Band which started out 25 years ago with 20 members and now boasts 90 musicians.
Mindicino said they are in the process of selecting a director and have contacted several area high school band directors.
Organizer
Fred Boles, retired Sharon High School band director, is helping to organize the concert band, but likely won't be directing because he is involved with several other music groups.
Boles, however, said he intends to play with the band when he gets a chance.
He said they will start off with some simple show tunes and patriotic music.
"There are a lot of good players out there," he said noting that most of the high school bands in the Shenango Valley each had 100-plus members.
Bole said they would love to see a multigenerational band with a few parent/child or grandparent/grandchild pairings.
Boles said they are also working with area schools and music stores to find instruments for prospective members. He said often in high school or college the larger instruments such as the tubas were owned by the school and not the pupil because of the high cost of the instruments.
And, so far, there's no limit to the number of band members.
"We will take as many members as we can as long as we can all fit on the stage at the performing arts center," Mindicino said.
For more information about the band, contact Judy Mindicino at (724) 962-4280 or write to bulhfarm@verizon.net.
cioffi@vindy.com