Naugatuck Community Band Begins Another Year

I had the opportunity to attend a recent rehearsal of the Naugatuck Community Band in the Band Room. They meet on p.m. to 9ish. Charley Marenghi is the man in charge and he put the band members through their paces in preparation for their Spring Concert on Saturday, April 28, 2012 beginning at 7 p.m. at a venue to be determined. The concert will be called "Music from the Darker Side." I am sure that this concert will be as impressive as their winter concert which I attended as a very proud mom.

Rehearsal starts with a warm up, followed by tuning up, and then the real work begins. The young man who came with me that was covering auxiliary percussion ran around collecting the instruments he needed during this time. Then the band began to practice their first piece, a medley of songs from the musical !! Needless to say, I had to stay and listen. The snippets of the various numbers did not allow me to sing (quietly) entire favorite songs from the show, but I still loved it. They also worked on Harry Potter at Hogwarts and Music for a Darkened Theater, and I have heard that my son the Star Wars fan might get a chance to play percussion on a piece from one of those beloved movies. The conductor shared that the Darker Side program will also include Night on Bald Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky and Mars, Bringer of War from Gustav Holst's "The Planets." 

I learned that the band is part of a larger concept called "Naugatuck Community Musicians." Mr. Marenghi indicated that the band is now a 501-c3. With that status they are hoping that fans and friends of the band will "," and help them secure funds from the $50,000 grant program. Affordable dues are payable at the beginning of each year. They also run fundraisers in order to pay for music and other needs. The Community Band will be playing God Bless America at the Sound Tigers Game on Sunday afternoon, February 19, 2012 and hockey tickets are still available. Call Robert Delagrange (203-729-8471) for more information.

The Community Band is a year-round activity with a short break in the summer. This May they are looking forward to anchoring the Naugatuck Arts Commission's Salute to the . I have performed at two of the Veteran's Concerts and the band definitely made them an inspiring evening of music for everyone in attendance. In June they are planning on performing in support of Flag Day ceremonies (June 14) and kicking off the annual Summer Music Festival with their Patriotic & Pops Program on the 19th of June. I have been taking my boys to the Green for the annual Pops concert for several years and never imagined that one of them would someday become a member of the band. We always enjoy the selection of music and perhaps even more seeing how many of the musicians we recognize.

Currently the band is in need of more low bass instruments, another alto sax, a few more clarinets, one or two more trombones and they are always in need of more percussion people. However, all players, regardless of skill level or instrument are encouraged to come join them. Any players interested in joining should feel free to call Band President, Robert Delagrange (203-729-8471), Secretary, Mary Schmelcke (203-729-8750) or Artistic Director, Charles Marenghi (203-723-2005) for more information. You can also visit their website for more information.