ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Escanaba City Band is preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary this year with special events, recognition, and performances.
The City Band held its first organizational meeting at City Hall on March 19, 1924, and the music has continued ever since.
“It’s pretty amazing that something like that could be a part of our community for 100 years straight,” said City Band Director Bruce Cassell. “Just think of all the things that the city has gone through in the last 100 years and the Escanaba City Band has been right there with it. It’s pretty amazing.”
The actual birth date of the City Band was recently discovered in an archived Daily Press article. The article referred to an organizational meeting held on March 19 to form the band.
“That was the date, what is now the Escanaba City Band, had their first organizational meeting at city hall with a gentleman named Joseph H. Greenfield, who was the first conductor of the band,” said Centennial Celebration Committee Chair Amy Chown in a press release.
Greenfield was a widely-known director and music teacher who had just returned from England. According to the Daily Press article, he was joined by some of Escanaba’s finest musicians. The article went on to say that the band would hold regular rehearsals with performances throughout the summer.
“Having a local civic organization, like the band that we have, is not something you typically see in every town across America,” Chown said. “We are very fortunate to have the rich, cultural organizations that we have in this town that really brings music as a centerpiece in Ludington Park, in downtown Escanaba, at the arrival of the Honor Flight at the airport and tree lighting.”
The band members range in age from 18 to 93. As the oldest member of the band, John Chown said it is important to recognize that a town of Escanaba’s size continues to have a band that is active and getting stronger.
“I look forward to the city band practices, I look forward to the concerts, I look forward to everything, even the parades,” he said. “It’s just a part of my life and it’s part of a lot of people’s life, listening to the band.”
Andrea Sullivan has been with the band for 55 years, over half of the time the city band has been in existence. She plays clarinet and serves as the band’s business manager.
“I just love playing for people, seeing the reaction of the people in the audience and the kids dancing,” she said. “It’s just fun.”
Amy Chown says the band is going to have a busy summer during its 100th anniversary. After practices start in May, the band’s first concert in Ludington Park is June 19. However, they begin by playing for the Escanaba Public Library Ice Cream Social and Escanaba Elks Flag Day program the week before. During its regular concert on July 24, the City Band will formally celebrate its 100th anniversary.
“We will officially celebrate our anniversary, we will celebrate the city band and we will have a reception for the community,” Chown said.
The band is looking for sponsors to help offset the cost of the celebration. Escanaba Mayor Mark Ammel, who is a former member of the band, will present a proclamation in the band’s honor. Cassell said the city band has been a good promotional part of the city, playing at parades in other communities and for visitors in Ludington Park. With the band turning 100 on March 19, he said the City Band continues to strive to entertain and represent the community.
