close

Community band seeks musicians

3 min read
article image -

CARMICHAELS – If you think you might still remember how to play that band instrument that is collecting dust in your closet, Carmichaels American Legion Post 400 community band director Frank Ricco is looking for you.

“You don’t have to be a member of the American Legion to be a part of the band. That is a misconception that many have about us,” Ricco said. “We obviously have veterans in the band but anyone who wants to play can come.”

The face of the current band changes from event to event depending on work schedules, school activities, etc., with musicians from middle school to retirement age participating.

“We pride ourselves in that we have at times as many as seven retired music teachers at a rehearsal or performance. This is a great resource for the younger musicians who join us,” Ricco said. “The best way to join the band is to just show up for a rehearsal. Anyone is welcome.”

Ricco, a former high school band director himself, said he knows there is a large untapped pool of talented musicians in Greene, Washington and Fayette counties who no longer actively play their instruments. This may be because of a lack of opportunity, Ricco said.

“This is their chance to get back into it. The thing about us is we play live music. You can listen to all of the CDs you want but remember, someone had to play live for it to be recorded,” he said. “Keeping our style of music live is very important to those involved. I’d like to see some of our local musicians dust off the horns and come keep music live in Carmichaels.”

The primary mission of the community band is to perform in support of the veterans of Post 400 but its secondary mission is to play in support of the community. The band’s season begins in May with the Memorial Day remembrance and concludes in December with Wreaths Across America.

“In between, you can see us at the Coal Show parade in Carmichaels and the Covered Bridge Festival at the Greene Academy,” Ricco said. “The post sponsors a community picnic and concert each year. We play for that and we’ve been asked to play for the summer picnic at the Veterans Hospital in Aspinwall. We’ve also been asked to play the National Anthem at a Washington Wild Things game.”

Ricco said members of Post 400 go to the VA hospital every year to volunteer and help escort patients.

“I have taken another band there and the vets really get excited about the music,” he said. “We have 54 musicians on our email list currently but the most we average at any performance has been 26. I’d like to see that number closer to the 54, especially when we go to perform for these veterans in the VA hospital.”

For more information, contact Ricco at 724-966-2331 or attend a rehearsal at the American Legion Post 400 on E. George Street in Carmichaels. Rehearsals are held at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday from April through October and last approximately an hour and a half.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $3.75/week.

Subscribe Today