Community Band to celebrate 50 years

One of the oldest community bands in the region is celebrating its 50-year anniversary this week.

The Community Band of the Palouse is inviting all to attend its free anniversary concert at the Pullman High School Auditorium at 7 p.m. Friday. Guests can enjoy a slice of cake while listening to Gustav Holst’s Second Suite in F, a tribute to Louis Armstrong, the William Tell Overture and classic marches.

Admission is free.

The anniversary celebration will be the first the band has had since forming a half-century ago. Don Peters, a member of over 45 years, said the event has been in the works for years.

The band established its roots at the Gladish Community Center, in Pullman, first filling the space with music in September 1974. Peters said former Gladish music director Dana Cleveland had been approached shortly after retiring in 1973 to start a community band.

In partnership with Community Colleges of Spokane, Cleveland was back conducting in the same room at the Gladish he’d had while teaching, Peters said. The college provided music and a course credit as long as members paid tuition.

The band separated from the college in the early 1980s after Peters said costs began to rise. It became the Pullman Community Band, which was then called the Pullman City Band while partnering with the Pullman Parks and Recreation Center in the mid ’80s.

Peters said the band officially became the Community Band of the Palouse in the 1990s to reflect musicians from a wider area.

Diane Prorak, a member for eight years, said the band has gone through several directors since its inception. Matt Zook is the most recent one, having led it for two years.

Prorak said the band will have winter and spring concerts, as well as Fourth of July and Veterans Day concerts. It also performs a few summer concerts in Reaney and Sunnyside parks in Pullman. Prorak said summer events are a band favorite because people often dance to its music.

She said the band usually plays at the Moscow Farmers Market, though not this year. Peters said it’s made an appearance in the National Lentil Festival in the past.

Prorak added that a couple of subgroups have formed from the band. Some members created the Auf Gehts German Band, a polka group that plays at the Palouse Ice Cream Social and at Oktoberfest. The Community Band of the Palouse Seniors performs at various regional senior centers.

She said the main band plays an array of music, which is often dependent on the director and different events. Members practice contemporary music, jazz, medleys, Christmas music and arrangements of popular songs.

Peters said something unique to the band is it doesn’t require auditions. He added it’s open to anyone interested, especially to those who played in high school or college and have been away from their instruments for a while.

He said the band is also self-regulating. Members will choose parts they want to play and share their talents with others.

Prorak said the band is intergenerational. It forms a sense of community with players who come from all walks of life. She added it doesn’t matter what ideologies or differences people may have — they’re there to play and bond over music.

Peters said it’s a space where everyone can enjoy each other’s company and take their minds off what’s going on in the world.

He added the band celebrates civic pride.

Peter’s isn’t aware of a similar band older than the Community Band of the Palouse. He said Moscow Arts Commission Band has been together for around 20 years, and is in the process of forming its own community band.

He attributes its long run to having excellent directors and plenty of talent in the area.

Pearce can be reached at epearce@dnews.com.