The Batavia Concert Band’s 85th anniversary season of music-making and free public concerts begins June 24 in Batavia’s Centennial Park. Additional concerts and parades will feature the Band at other locations and times, including Batavia’s popular July 4 Picnic In The Park and Trigon Park in LeRoy.
The Batavia Concert Band’s repertoire is wide-ranging in origin, period and style: Sousa-style marches, Broadway show tunes, classical adaptations, fun songs for kids of all ages, big-band and swing numbers, popular songs from hit musicals and movies, rock favorites arranged for concert band… and everything in between.
One of the big fundraisers for the Batavia Concert Band for the past several years has been the "Taste of Western New York" raffle. This raffle has featured gift certificates from several generous donor restaurants around the area. We have continued this tradition in 2009 with a twist, extending the reach beyond restaurants to include other local businesses. So for 2009, the raffle is now called the "Sample of Western New York" raffle.
There are also minor changes to the way the certificates are dispersed. As with past raffles, there will be 4 winners. Instead of having the winners take turns picking certificates, there will be 4 "gift baskets" to choose from.
There is now an official page for the Batavia Concert Band. Become a fan to get updates on concerts and events!
Remember when family entertainment was participatory? The family was together… physically, not “virtually?” No TV, no cable, no internet, no cell phones, no texting, no IMing, no MP3 players, no Facebook or Twitter? When LIVE music was the center of community entertainment, celebration and leisure time?
Such was Batavia New York in 1924, when Angelo Colarusso arrived to form the Batavia Boys' Concert Band. Colarusso had earned medals and wide recognition in Europe and America as a conductor and baritone horn player.
In those first Batavia boys-only bands, Colarusso was both conductor and instrumental instructor, for which he charged the proud boys’ families the princely sum of $3 per month.
2009 Board of Directors
Ann Arent has been a board member for 4 years. She has worked for 31 years at UMMC and is also active in Resurrection Parish as treasurer of Sodality, a sacristan, and choir member. She and husband John live in Batavia and have two daughters. In her spare time Ann loves to cross-stitch.
Pam Frisby has served as Chair of the Board of Directors for five years. She is Payroll Supervisor for Keeler Construction in Albion, a lifelong Batavia resident, mother of two and proud grandmother of one. Pam was a member of the Elba Elegants, Quota International of Batavia, and is a tour guide at Genesee Country Village and Museum for Civil War, Halloween and Yuletide. Her hobbies include dog grooming, scrapbooking, gardening and banjo lessons.
The Batavia Concert Band would like to thank our 2009 patrons. Their support was vital to making the 2009 season happen!
Tuba Over $150
Josh Pacino
The Pacino Family
Bob Knipe
Harold & Nan Nesbitt
Charlotte Greening
Euphonium $100-$149.99
Rick Partise
Dave Scherff
Loy Ellen Gross
John & Mary Hodgins
Saxophone $50-$99.99
Rose Squires
Jeannette Morley
Fran Woodworth
Dan MacIsaac
Mr. & Mrs. Ralph D. Worthington, Sr.
Trumpet $35-$49.99
Dean Arnold
Sarah Hulme
Rick Dunn
Trombone $20-$34.99
Jill Arent
John & Ann Arent
Catherine K. Roth
Marilyn Pastecki
Norma Sawdey
Fran & Carol Guppenberger
Diana Martino
Patricia Phillips
Clarinet $10-$19.99
Harold L. Milward
Eleanor V. Eldridge
Bob & Anya Pastecki
Sara Jones
Piccolo Up to $10
Pete Mark
The Batavia Concert Band will play on the main stage in the Batavia City Centre, as the kickoff act for this year’s Christmas In The City event.
The Batavia Concert Band is announcing the winners of their “Taste of Western New York” restaurant gift certificate raffle. The winners pick from a grab bag of mostly donated gift certificates from restaurants in the Western New York area.
First Place: Jim Griggs won 12 gift certificates.
Second Place: Ronald Vanderlaan won 10 gift certificates.
Third Place: Sue Fay Allen won 8 certificates.
Fourth place: Crystal Crossett won 4 certificates.
Finance Director Bob Pastecki presented the winners with their gift certificates.
This raffle is the main fundraiser the Batavia Concert Band does each year. The band performs free concerts over the summer on Wednesday nights at 7pm in Centennial Park. The funds raised by the raffle go towards offsetting the cost of the concerts.
Dizzy plays Centennial Park at the final Concert in the Park on August 13, 2008. Dizzy is:
- Derek Reiss (trumpet/flugelhorn)
- Dan DeLuca (guitar)
- Pete Mark (bass)
- Bob Chaplin (drums)
The Batavia Concert Band congratulates Albion graduate David Hollenbeck, the winner of this year's Batavia Concert Band Scholarship. This $250 scholarship is awarded yearly to graduating students preparing to pursue a college degree in a music-related field. The scholarship is funded by snack sales at Batavia Concert Band performances, and is awarded based on applications submitted by students.
Mr. Hollenbeck, who has played with the Batavia Concert Band since the 2007 season, is an accomplished tuba, bass trombone, baritone and trumpet player. He has played in the 2007 NYSSMA Conference All State Symphonic Band, 2007 Zone 2 Area All State Orchestra, and was named co-best jazz soloist at the 2008 Batavia Pageant of Bands. He is currently pursuing a Music Education degree at SUNY Fredonia.
