Community Band Celebrates 35 Years

It might not seem like they would have much in common--a 16-year-old flute player and a senior who is a weaver and plays the oboe. But together, they are just two of the 50 volunteer musicians that make up the Pleasanton Community Concert Band.

It's a band that has a long history in Pleasanton and on Sunday, they'll be playing a free concert at the Amador Theater to celebrate 35 years of existence.

At the helm of this diverse group is  Bob Wiliams, a long-time resident of Pleasanton and an army veteran. Williams has more than six decades of playing the French horn under his belt and has led the group for 27 years.

"For me, directing this band has been a labor of love," said Williams.

Williams first joined the band during its inception in the summer of 1975.  It was then under the direction of Jerry Lupinsky, who left the area after about two years.  Shortly afterwards Bob Williams took up the baton and became the band's conductor.  The band used to give free Friday evening concerts at Wayside Park, but gradually "pop" groups took over those concerts.

Music has been a part of Williams' life since he began his French horn studies.  After he graduated from college he went into the army and was in charge of the band training unit. Every eight weeks he received a new group of recruits to train.  At the close of the Korean Conflict, with his G.I. Bill he continued to pursue music, eventually earning a Masters Degree at the Eastman School of Music.

After that program, he began teaching music at public schools at the elementary and junior high level.  In addition to bands, he directed choirs and orchestras.  Shortly after moving to Pleasanton in January of 1972 he joined the Livermore-Amador Symphony as a French horn player, and for many years now, he has been that orchestra's assistant conductor.

As is true for the Symphony, Pleasanton Community Concert Band members are mostly volunteers who love to play and who work in various fields.  They range in age from young teenagers to those in their eighties.

Many in the Valley enjoy the band's performances. At a recent concert held at the Livermore VA Hospital, a patient asked Williams to come back the very next day.

Sunday's concert will revolve around the theme of Anniversaries and will be comprised of pieces by composers born 100 or 200 years ago.  On the program are works by Frederic Chopin, Otto Nicolai, and Robert Schumann, all of whom were born in 1810. Other works will be by composers  born in 1910. In honor of the Boy Scouts of America's centennial birthday, the band will play a march composed by John Philip Sousa called the Boys Scouts of America March.

Premiere Rhapsodie for Clarinet by Claude Debussy will be performed by soloist, Joseph Bonfiglio. The concert will conclude with Monterey Bay Suite by Dr. Arthur P. Barnes, a former Stanford Band Director who has conducted the Livermore-Amador Symphony for many years.

Members of the band say they joined for a variety of reasons.

"It's fun to play in this group," said Tui Hedstrom, a weaver and an oboe player whose husband, a mathematician, is in the percussion section. "I like the music Bob chooses and the great variety."

Elise Savoy, who is just 16 years old, is one of the band's newest members. A flute player and a singer, she attends Livermore High and hopes to be a music major in college.

"I have many more pieces here than I'd ever have in the high school band," said Savoy.  "Dr. Barnes's Suite is really challenging."

Sunday's performance at Amador Theater will be held from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Other performance dates for the Pleasanton Community Concert Band are:

• May 8th, Pleasanton Farmer's Market
• May 31,  Pionner Cemetery in Pleasanton
• June 12, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco