Indian Valley Community Band concert to benefit Sandwich Opera House – Valley Free Press

Katrina J. E. Milton - kmilton@shawmedia.com

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The alto saxophone Donna Hutson learned to play as a fifth-grader growing up in Sandwich is the same one she uses today.

Now 67, Hutson is an original member of the Indian Valley Community Band (IVCB), which was founded in June 1986 when three Sandwich band directors Joel Hawkinson, Terry Wickwire and Paul Rossok placed a newspaper ad looking to start a band with members from the community. The bands members travel from more than 12 different towns to perform together.

The band has more members than ever. At 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 7, at the Sandwich Opera House, 140 E. Railroad St. in Sandwich, 38 musicians will perform on stage during the bands 31st annual spring concert.

I just love playing in the band, Hutson said. Im one of the bands original members. We sound so good when we all get together, and its always a lot of fun. Its a good group to be a part of.

I guess once youre a band geek, youre always a band geek.

The bands concerts are free, with donations collected at the door for a different local nonprofit organization or group before each concert. Groups and projects that concert revenue has helped in the past include Fox Valley Older Adults Services, Equine Dreams, the Sandwich Lions Clubs Franklin Mall Christmas Project and the Tri-County Kiwanis Clubs Fruit of the Room project.

Proceeds from this years spring concert will benefit the Sandwich Opera House. Chris Roe, the opera houses executive director, said the money will be used for building repairs, including window replacement, painting and historical restoration after water damage.

We always enjoy having the Indian Valley Community Band perform at the opera house, Roe said. I love that theyre all local musicians and that their age range is such a variety. Some havent played since high school, some are in high school. Its always a surprise to hear what music they will perform at the concert. Its always something fun and different.

The band will perform 10 songs of varying genres during the concert. Songs include Offenbachs Ballet Parisien, Strauss Radetzky March, a Spanish paso doble and an arrangement of the Beach Boys greatest hits.

The music we will be playing has a great variety, from more serious pieces, like a German march, to the Beach Boys, said Richard Hart, IVCBs director since 2011.

One of my favorite pieces we will be playing, The Light Eternal, is a memoriam of four World War II U.S. Army chaplains of four different faiths that gave up their lifeboat seats and their lives when their ship was torpedoed.

After a short intermission, a sing-along with the audience will start off the second half of the concert. A punch and cookie reception will be after the concert, allowing the audience the opportunity to meet and socialize with the musicians.

In addition to the spring concert, the band also performs a Christmas concert at the Sandwich Opera House and a summer concert in the park. The summer concert will be 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 16, at James Knights Park, 1001 Latham St. in Sandwich.

The band does not have auditions anyone high school-age or older who plays an instrument is welcome to join the band and play along. All instruments are needed, especially clarinets, percussion and trombones. The band rehearses from 6 to 7:20 p.m. Mondays at Sandwich Middle School, 600 Wells St.

Trumpeter Jean McBride of Yorkville, another of the bands original members, said shes continued to play in the band because of the wonderful people shes met over the years.

Flautist Deb Kell of Sandwich said she feels lucky to have joined the band in 2008.

I didnt play my flute for 35 years, Kell said. I was able to take it out of the closet and play again, even though I was rusty. Im just happy to have music and people to play with.

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Indian Valley Community Band concert to benefit Sandwich Opera House - Valley Free Press