Canfield band to open its season

Concert set tonight on Village

Green

By Ashley Luthern

aluthern@vindy.com

CANFIELD

One Canfield couple met in the University of Findlay’s marching band and have been making music together ever since.

Ken and Alice Cooley both play in the Canfield Community Concert Band, which opens its summer season at 7 tonight on the Canfield Village Green.

“We joined the band — it’s been five years ago,” Ken Cooley said. “I hadn’t played my horn for 30-some years, and I just picked up again. It’s enjoyable, it’s a relief, it’s something different that you just enjoy doing.”

Ken Cooley plays baritone and is a retired Austintown chemistry and science teacher. Alice Cooley is still teaching music in the Austintown school district and plays the flute.

“It’s been somewhat of a family affair,” Ken Cooley said. “Sometimes we’ll meet before band for dinner and then go on out to practice. Many husband-and-wife combinations are in the band and mother-daughter [pairs].”

The couple’s children, Leann Rich and Mark Cooley, both play in the band.

“It’s nice for the people, and we play all over the place too, not just Canfield,” said Rich, an oboe player. “It is a good family activity.”

The band will perform at parks in Boardman, Austintown, Columbiana and Sharon, Pa. A variety of songs will be played, including patriotic tributes, music from the turn of the century through the 1940s and show tunes, such as Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

The band was created in 1976 for the bicentennial celebrations and has since grown in numbers.

The 50 musicians range in age from 16 to 94 and come from towns across the tri-county area, said Director Anthony Cebriak.

“It’s really a good experience to play and see the people’s smiles, tapping their toes in the audience,” Cebriak said. “And when they hum and sing along with songs they recall from the past.”