| About
the Bands History
The origin of the Gem City Bands dates back to the early 1940s,
or perhaps even the 1930s, when there was a concert band playing
at the Siebenbueger Singing Society. At the same time, there was
a concert and marching band at the 313th Machine Gun Battalion Club,
located at 20th & Peach Streets, the present site of the Kings
Rook.
Around
1950, the 313th Band combined with the existing Siebenbuerger Band
and relocated to and was sponsored by the Siebenbuerger Singing
Society. The band had several conductors during this time, including
Adam Lehner, Joseph Lehner (Adam's brother), and Hank Russell. The
band remained at the Siebenbuerger Club for over 20 years, but because
of declining interest and a shrinking membership, it was felt that
a new sponsor had to be found.
The band
very briefly met at the Millcreek Moose Club. In 1970, an agreement
was reached with the East Erie Turners (EET) Club for the band to
move there under EET sponsorship. At the Turners, the band had six
different conductors, including Hank Russell, Lloyd Johns, Ralph
Perkins, Ned Trautman, Gary Peterson, and Tim McKinney. The band
played annual spring and fall concerts at the Turners, as well as
three summer concerts at the club's former outdoor facility, Turnwald.
At its peak, and until the 1980s, the band drew 400 people or more
for its concerts. At one point, the club even added risers to help
accommodate the crowds.
In September
2003, after more than 30 years, the band and the East Erie Turners
parted ways, leaving the band without a name and a home. Though
unsure of the future, the full concert band and its new, smaller
spin off—a swing/jazz band—still practiced at Wilson
Middle School for several months, before landing at St. John's Lutheran Church. The bands resided at St. John's Lutheran Church until December 2010. Betty McKinney served as director of the bands until December 2007. From 2008 through November 2010, Dr. Scott Tomlison served as director of both the Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble. Brian McCowin now serves as the Concert Band conductor, while Jim Caspar is the conductor of the Jazz Ensemble. The bands are now located at St. Mark's Episcopal Church at 4701 Old French Road. St. Mark's offers a large rehearsal room, several breakout rooms for sectionals and a large storage room to house the band's growing equipment and music library.

About
the Bands
Both the Concert and Jazz Band present spring and fall
concerts at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, as well as numerous other
nursing home and community performances throughout the year.
The Concert
Band, consisting of 50+ members, is very versatile, playing music
such as old overtures, show tunes, traditional concert band pieces,
movie scores, and marches. The Concert Band rehearses each Tuesday
night from 8:00 to 9:30.
The Jazz
Ensemble was formed in 2003 by then-conductor Tim McKinney as a smaller, spin-off group dedicated to
performing jazz, big band, and swing sounds from all eras. The Jazz
Band has a large repertoire that includes such jazz greats as Sammy
Nestico, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Buddy Rich. The 18-20
piece Jazz Band rehearses on Tuesday nights from 6:15 to 7:45, prior
to Concert Band practice.
The Brass Quintet is the newest Gem City performing ensemble, started in 2011 by Gem City member Sue Miller. The group plays classical, jazz, and traditional music and is especially suited for smaller venues.
| Where
Have the Bands Performed? |
Retirement
Communities:
- Brevillier Village
- Dufford
Terrace
- Heritage Apartments
- Independence
Court
- Mercy
Center on Aging
- Mercy Terrace Apartments
- Methodist
Towers
- Niagara
Village
- PA
Soldiers’ & Sailor’s Home
- Parkside
at Westminster
- Regency
at South Shore
- Sarah
Reed Retirement Center
- Springhill
Retirement Center
- St.
Mary’s at Asbury Ridge
- Sunrise
Assisted Living
|
Events
and Other:
- All-Season’s Marketplace
- Blasco Library Concert Series
- CB&C Innovative Tours
- Celebrate Erie
- Colony Plaza Gallery Night
- Corry’s Thursdays in the Park
- Dan Rice Days
- East Erie Turner’s
- Erie Art Museum's Blues and Jazz Fest
- Erie Maennerchor Club
- Erie SeaWolves
- Erie Sounds of Summer Concert Series
- Erie Summer Festival of the Arts
- Erie VA Medical Center
- Erie Wild Rib Cook-Off
- expERIEnce Children's Museum
- Festival of Trees
- The Gathering at French Creek
- Girard Lawn Chair Concert Series
- Gravel Pit Park
- Harborcreek Township
- Maennerchor Club
- Millcreek Mall
- North East Summer Concert Series
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- PMEA District 2 Jazz Fest
- Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church
- Shriners Hospital for Children
- St. John’s Catholic Church
- St. John’s Lutheran Church
- Tall Ships Celebration
- Union Station
- Waterford Heritage Days
|
|