A century of band music
Special to the TIMES NEWS The Lehighton Boys and Girls Band is celebrating is centennial this year.
This marks a special year for the Lehighton Boys and Girls Band.
The unit is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Founded in 1910, the Lehighton Boys and Girls Band has been offering musical opportunities to the youth of Lehighton and surrounding communities for many years.
Their winter concert, held January 20, was the first concert of the centennial observance for the band.
Held at their hall on North Sixth Street in Lehighton, the concert presented traditional marches, suites, spirituals, and symphonic excerpts to an appreciative audience. Featured performers at the concert were Katherine Sabol, saxophone, and Peter Petrack, trombone, who performed a jazz duet.
Selected from the over-all membership at the Boys and Girls Bandhall, the 28 members of the band come from the Lehighton, Palmerton, Jim Thorpe and Tamaqua School Districts, Ss. Peter and Paul School in Lehighton and home schooled/cyber schooled students.
Membership in tihe band is open to students in grades four through twelve.
Robert E. Fetterman, director, said The Boys and Girls Band is committed to providing quality small group and ensemble musical instruction in support of, and in addition to, the student's school instrumental music program.
Instruction, rehearsals and an instrument (if needed and available from the band's inventory) are provided at a very reasonable cost to the student, he said.
The band employs a certified instructor with 38 years of experience as both a public school and community band director.
Many activities in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the Band (founded as the Lehighton Boys Band) are being planned for this year, culminating with an Anniversary Concert in the fall of 2010.
Alumni of the Band are asked to contact the band to be kept informed of anniversary plans, which will include a performance by an Alumni Band.
The Boys and Girls Band may be reached by contacting their Music Director, Robert E. Fetterman, at lehightonboysandgirlsband@gmail.com or 197 North Sixth St., Lehighton, PA 18235 (610) 377-1860.
