St. Johnsbury Band Announces 180th Concert Season

The Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce will help “kickoff” the St. Johnsbury Band’s 180th season at the bandstand with a free Ice Cream Social at 7:30pm June 21st at Courthouse Park in St. Johnsbury VT. All bandstand concerts begin at 7:30pm and last approximately one hour. There is no admission to any concert. Park seating is limited and the public is encouraged to bring a lawn chair.

“An ice cream social is nice way to start our concert season at Courthouse Park and I hope a lot of people will turn out for this event.” said Dave Hare, Band Manager. “It is part of what makes our community fun to be in. The band has been rehearsing a lot of new music as well as special pieces from our music library that have not been played recently.” Earlier this year the band performed with the Lyndon State College Community Chorus in a joint concert “Give My Regards to Broadway” and at the Festival of Bands concert with the St. Johnsbury School bands and the St. Johnsbury Academy. On Memorial Day the band presented a special concert honoring the men and women of the armed forces at Courthouse Park as part of St. Johnsbury’s Memorial Day services. On June 14th the Band will perform their annual concert at the St. Johnsbury Health and Rehab Center.

Every week will feature a unique concert with a mixture of show tunes, classic marches, pieces which highlight soloists or band sections and an occasional special guest. All concerts are subject to cancellation at the last minute due to inclement weather. Please see the complete concert schedule on the Calendar page for all special music theme nights and additional ice cream socials.

During the summer, the band will also perform in North Woodstock, NH on Sunday night, July 4th at 7:00pm, leading up to the Woodstock/Lincoln fireworks display. The band is also scheduled to perform in Lyndonville’s Stars and Stripes Parade on Saturday, July 17th and in Newport on July 23rd at 6:00pm for the Aquafest Parade and Concert.

The St. Johnsbury Band is under the musical direction of Mr. Gary Aubin of St. Johnsbury. The Assistant Musical Director is Mr. William Moulton of Danville, Vt.

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St. Johnsbury Band on Vermont Public Radio

The following story on the St. Johnsbury Band aired on "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered" on Vermont Public Radio on Monday, March 26, 2008 as part of their recognition of Memorial Day. Reporter Charlotte Albright has put together a very nice piece on the band and some of its history with interviews from several long-time members.

Click here to listen

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2009 Annual Meeting

The St. Johnsbury Band held its annual dinner and business meeting on November 6, 2009, at Warner's Gallery in Wells River, VT. One of the highlights of this years meeting was the attendance of several honorary members. Don Mullally and his wife Val joined the band as did David and Molly Rau, coming all the way from Maine. Several awards were presented at the meeting.

One Lifetime membership award was made. Lifetime membership is given only to band members who have given enduring time and made significant efforts to advance the goals of the St. Johnsbury Band.

The Lifetime membership award was given to Norene Blanchard. Blanchard has played trumpet for the Band for nearly 25 years. She sits quietly in the trumpet section and plays her parts. She shows up for performances far and wide and has been an enduring and faithful member of the band.

An Honorary Membership was bestowed on Richard Chapman. Chapman is around for most concerts. He helps bring chairs in from the bandstand after performances, scoops ice cream at the ice cream socials, and takes many pictures and videos of the Band performing. His help is a big support to the Band.

Two In Memorium awards were presented this year. In Memorium membership to the St. Johnsbury Band can be awarded to those deceased members who gave enduring time and made significant efforts to advance the goals of the St. Band. The awards made this year were to Ted French and Sarah Christophersen.

Ted French played the baritone in the Band for many years. He made a monetary donation to the Band many years ago which made it possible for the Band to have a small investment. This investment has made modest growth over the years and is managed by the Band's finance committee.

Sarah Christophersen was the principal flute for the Band for many years. She was also an accomplished pianist who performed on the flute and piano with the North Country Society of Musicians. She also arranged for her daughter, Terry, and former son-in-law, Richard, both professional musicians, to come down from Quebec every summer to be featured on piccolo, soloing with the Band. Christophersen was also a board member at one time, serving as the Band secretary.

Complete lists of the St. Johnsbury Band member awards is available on the Members page.

Following the business meeting, the Band was entertained with stories and tales of rural Vermont by Representative Danny Gore (aka Norm Lewis) from Avery's Gore. A former Vermont governor (for seven minutes in 1994), Gore displays good-natured political satire and humorously tells stories helping to preserve rural Vermont character and culture. ("The Faces of Danny Gore" by Scott Wheeler, Vermont's Northland Journal, 13 September, 2008).

Click here for a few photos from the annual meeting.
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