By Don Murtha
Saturday, April 23,
opens 9:30 a.m.
Silverton High School,
1456 Pine St. Free
The band members don’t get paid to play – they do it strictly for fun. And most band members wouldn’t miss Monday night rehearsals without a serious excuse.
What the Marion County Citizens’ Band does do is play great music.
The Marion County Citizens’ Band members invite the public to the second annual Mid-Willamette Valley Band Festival on Saturday, April 23 with doors opening at 9:30 a.m. at Silverton High School, 1456 Pine St. The free concert includes the Marion County Citizens’ Band, the Clackamas Community Band, the Portland Metro Band, the Beaverton Community Band and the Keizer Community Band.
The Marion County Citizens’ Band formed in 1954 when cornet player Olfan DeGuire organized a group of about 30 musicians to play at the Silverton Centennial celebration. The name was chosen because members were “citizens” of many of the surrounding towns including Mount Angel, Silverton, Woodburn and Salem. Today, there are roughly 40 members, who each take pride in playing as an amateur musician.
This is the second year the Marion County band has hosted the Mid-Willamette Band Festival at Silverton High. Joint band concerts have been held in the past, but they grew so large that some bands were excluded.
Dale Scroufe, director of the Marion County Citizens’ Band, envisioned a new community band gathering.
The first year, only one other band attended. In addition to the five community bands this year, Joe Marcinkiewicz and his Tualatin Valley Jazz Big Band will play at intermission. Joe is also a member of the Marion County band.
The band is made up of players of all ages – from teenagers to octogenarians – from many backgrounds.
“Although, we have a good solid membership, we are always looking for more members. We always say, don’t be shy about joining us. If you ever played a band instrument, we are glad to see you,” Scroufe said.
The band meets at 7:30 p.m. Mondays in the music room of the Mount Angel Middle School.
“We play a variety of music: some marches, several pieces by Leroy Anderson, some swing tunes and music from Broadway shows. Currently, we are rehearsing a Norwegian march, ‘Valdrers’, Pachelbel’s ‘Canon’, ‘Turkey in the Straw’ and ‘The Light Cavalry Overture,’” Sroufe said. “We try to keep it light and simple, but once in a while we like to throw in a little challenge.”
At the concert, each band will have its own program then at the end all of the bands will join in to play one piece.
