Rehoboth Concert Band headlines Bandstand performance
By Lexi Coon | Jul 11, 2013
Sharon Still conducts the band
while Donna de Kuyper of Lewes, a Broadway performer, sings along with
the Rehoboth Concert Band June 30.
The Rehoboth Concert Band, founded in September, 2012, had previously performed two concerts in the area, but this was their first show on the Bandstand. "We're very excited," said Sharon Still, the band's conductor. Still, who started this concert band after retiring from more than 35 years of high school band directing experience, has also traveled across the country to conduct the Michigan Festival Concert Band and has led her own jazz band to Washington, D.C.
After starting with only 14 members, the band has grown to an astounding 63 individuals, with the youngest member in sixth grade. They all started practicing at the Cape Henlopen Senior Center and in February moved to Beacon Middle School. The members all practiced together as a full band unless otherwise told and were able to check out their sheets of music to practice at home. Unfortunately, those were of limited value. "We need more complete scores," or music sheets with all instrumental parts of a song, said Kay Creech, the band's executive director.
During their practices, the members work to perform both classical and contemporary forms of music to hold the attention of all ages. Still asked the crowd June 30 to "make sure [they] stick around" even if they don't like a song, because the next one they hear will probably be very different and more their style.
Emily Heilner, a rising eighth grader at Beacon Middle School, has played the trumpet for the Rehoboth Concert Band since the band its inception. "It's awesome," Heilner said, speaking of the band. "It's made me a better player and is a great opportunity to learn from those who are better than you," she said. Although this was the band's first performance on the Bandstand, they expect to continue "as long as there's interest," said Still. For the rest of the summer, members are granted a break except for the possibility of a few section practices, but plan to resume their work in the fall.
The Rehoboth Concert Band is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, which founders hope will encourage donations. If interested in donating to or joining the Rehoboth Concert Band, go to https://sites.google.com/site/rehobothcommunityband/home of find them on Facebook.
Members of the clarinet section
(l-r) Mary Freelander, Hannah Wiswell, Steve Rhodes and Bill Workinger,
start to play their section of a song.
