By SAMANTHA NEISWONGER & MORRISSA VALASEK
Student Contributors
For those of you who aren’t aware, March is Music in Our Schools Month. Musical department staff Carrie McIntire and Eli Terwilliger are showcasing Redbank Valley’s music department in their own unique ways for the entire month of March. Curious as to what Terwilliger is doing for music in March? He is progressing with his community band.
Background Information
Community Band consists of current high school students as well as adult musicians in the area. The band accepts anyone from Grade 4 (age 9) to their 80s. The RV Community Band is for anyone willing to join. Members can be Redbank graduates or from different schools. There are currently 47 members in Community Band. Some friendly faces in Community Band include Redbank’s own, Gregory Campbell, who plays the trumpet, and Debra Dinger, retired physical education teacher, who once played with the Penn State Marching Blue Band.
Community Band started the summer of 2016; however, it is a hard time to fit practices into summer schedules due to vacations and other plans. Currently, the band gets together from January to March, with their most recent concert being Sunday, March 3. They also have a May concert and play at graduation. There is no admission fee to their concerts. Donations are permitted and all proceeds go to the Community Center.
Terwilliger said the inspiration came from “…a friend in Pittsburgh, who is an alumni of Redbank. He suggested a community band to help students that were already in band.” The friend knew that there was plenty of people that knew how to play in the community. Terwilliger agreed that it would be useful to help bring students and the community together.
The Bark interviewed a number of community band members to find out more about their experience.
Name: Brian Sattely
Instrument: Clarinet
Age: 18 (currently in high school)
How long have you been in the band?
For the past 3 years.
Can you play more than one instrument?
Percussion
What made you play this instrument?
I always copied my brother and so I played what he did.
How did you find out about the community band?
From being in concert band, Mr. T. offered everyone a spot.
Why did you decide to join?
Because of my love for music.
What does music mean to you?
I just love to play; it’s a passion.
Name: Madison Mueller-Hoell (Union)
Instrument: trumpet
Age: 16 (currently in high school)
How long have you been in the band?
I’ve been in band since last year. In fact, I quit track for band.
Can you play more than one instrument?
Yes, trumpet and xylophone.
What made you play this instrument?
It had the least amount of keys and such going on.
How did you find out about the community band?
My band director got an email from Mr. Terwilliger.
Why did you decide to join?
I try to find as many opportunities to play as possible.
What does music mean to you?
Music means a lot to me; I have participated in music since 4th grade.
Fun Fact
For this community band concert I am conducting “The White Stripes” by Seven Nation Army.
Samantha Neiswonger and Morrissa Valasek are students at Redbank Valley High School and members of The Bark, the school’s journalism/publications group.
