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Wish you were still marching at halftime? Lisle band wants you

Posted June 07, 2009 11:00 pm

By Christie Willhite

Back in the day, you were in a band. You guys were tight. Performances every weekend, cheering crowds.

Admit it. You miss it - the way your classmates would applaud the halftime performance, the rhythmic clapping of people along the parade route, your family beaming at you from the middle of the auditorium.

Ah, the glory days of high school band.

Good news. You can have it all again.

The Lisle Community Band, under the direction of Steve Green, is looking for new members. The band, largely populated by high school band alumni and parents of current high school players, performs a series of summer concerts, marches in the Fourth of July parade and even has a jazz ensemble.

So clean out that spit valve, polish up the brass on your horn and run through a few scales. Rehearsals for the summer concert season begin Tuesday.

In the meantime, Green tells us more about the band.

Q. What is your mission?

A. The Lisle Community Band's mission is to provide fine arts programming for the citizens of Lisle and to offer an opportunity for local musicians to continue their performance of high-quality band literature. The student musicians are able to continue their education through the summer and our adult musicians find the sometimes rare opportunity to continue performing in an instrumental ensemble.

Q. How do you work toward accomplishing that goal?

A. The Lisle Community Band provides high quality entertainment to the citizens of Lisle through the annual Concerts in the Park series during June and July. The band also provides a rare opportunity for students and adults to perform together in a high quality organization, a continuing education program through music.

Q. When and why did the band start? How has it grown?

A. The Lisle Community Band was founded in 1987 and incorporated in 1993. We are a concert band of approximately 50 musicians that performs mainly during the summer. Our membership comprises high school and college students, adults and retired citizens from Lisle and the surrounding communities.

The band began as an adult band performance opportunity for parents of Lisle High School students and Lisle High School alumni with one performance during the summer. Our four summer concerts now include a wide variety of music including classical, traditional band music, Broadway, movie and TV themes, marches, patriotic music and folk music from around the world.

The Lisle Community Band serves the public by performing at important civic celebrations such as the Eyes to the Skies July Fourth Parade and the village's Lights of Lisle holiday celebration in December.

In addition to the concert band, the Lisle Community Band organization offers a program of big band jazz performed by the Lisle Community Jazz Band. This group entertains our audiences with big band favorites from America's finest jazz composers.

Q. What successes have you had?

A. We have developed a loyal audience base for our concert series over the past 20 years. We have many returning band members every year who enjoy making music together. The performance level of the band has improved over the years and enables us to offer a wide variety of music to the citizens of Lisle. Our dedicated board of directors enables us to plan and sustain the band's mission.

Q. What challenges does the band currently face?

A. As with every not-for-profit organization, funding is always a challenge. We receive a generous grant from the Lisle Community Service Corporation, a grant and logistical support from Lisle Park District, facilities support from Lisle Unit District 202 and some donations from local businesses.

Our biggest challenge is gaining additional support of local businesses in these tough economic times so we can expand our programming, hire interesting soloists and purchase equipment. We would like to be able to eliminate our membership fee since all the musicians are already donating their time and musical skills, but we need these funds to enable us to continue providing our concerts to the public.

Q. What is the band best known for in the community? How does it contribute to the community?

A. The summer Concerts in the Park series is one of the only fine arts programs offered to the citizens of Lisle. The concerts provide wholesome entertainment for audiences of all ages, from toddlers to senior citizens, offering a positive activity that the entire family can enjoy together.

Q. What would surprise most people if they spent time with the band?

A. The public might be surprised that the band members pay to be in the band instead of being paid to provide the concerts as in some communities. The members also serve as the stage crew to set up for the concerts.

The public also may be surprised at the expenses involved in providing the free concerts, such as music, sound reinforcement, advertising, insurance and equipment.

Q. Who are your members? What qualities do you look for in new members?

A. Our members come from a number of different West Suburban communities and include musicians from a wide range of ages. We always have some families with two generations playing in our group and at one point we had three generations represented - a grandfather, father and grandchild.

We have members ranging from very accomplished musicians who teach music for a living to the adult who has not played for a while and wants to perform again.

If a person is dedicated to working to improve, being prepared for our rehearsals and having lots of fun, we want that person to join us.

Q. What do you expect of your members?

A. The time commitment is two evenings a week in the summer and additional practice at home. Also, they must commit to being at most of our concerts. We do have substitute musicians who fill in when members have to be gone for a vacation or business trip.

Q. How can readers get involved?

A. Musicians interested in playing in the band can call me at (630) 493-8375.

There are no auditions for the band in order to make the adult returning to playing comfortable with performing again. We will find a spot for them where they are comfortable with their skill level.

The Lisle Community Band performs a summer concert series as well as marching in the village's July Fourth parade. Courtesy of the Lisle Community Band

Lisle Municipal Band rehearsals When: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 9 to July 23 Where: Band room at Lisle High School, 1800 Short St. Visitors welcome? Yes Concerts What: First performance is a patriotic concert When: 7:30 p.m. June 25 Where: Community Park, 1825 Short St., Lisle Cost: Free Details: Bring a lawn chair or blanket; in rain, concerts move to Lisle High School, 1800 Short St. Info: <a href="http://www.lislecommunityband.org" target="new">lislecommunityband.org</a> Band profile Dues: $25, covers the cost of concert apparel Funding sources: Dues, Lisle Community Service Corporation, Lisle Park District, individual and business donations Members: 60 Info: Steven Green at (630) 493-8375 or <a href="mailto:sgreen@lisle202.org">sgreen@lisle202.org</a>; <a href="http://www.lislecommunityband.org" target="new">lislecommunityband.org</a>

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