Community Band Spotlight December 2011 December 09 2011, 1 Comment

The Bellefonte Band from Bellefonte, Pennsylvania Contributed by Stacy Flankey Community Band Spotlight this month features the band of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, a historic town full of Victorian charm.  The group consists of volunteer musicians of all ages from the surrounding areas.  Their mission: “to share our love of music, and have fun while doing so.”  This year the band celebrates it’s 27^th anniversary! Bellefonte Community Band consists of about 50 members, ranging from middle school students to retirees.  Five members of the band are veterans, and three were military band musicians! The director, Natalie Stanton, began her musical training on the piano at an early age and participated in bands and choirs throughout high school and college. She received a music degree from Lebanon Valley College and worked as an elementary school band instructor in Baltimore before moving to Bellefonte. Natalie has been with the band since 2005.  The director selects the musical pieces, but with input from the band members. The current favorites are marches, pieces based on popular films, such as “The Pirates of the Caribbean,” and a medley of theme songs from TV crime dramas.  The band also enjoys playing more challenging classical pieces, like “Russian Christmas Music” and “Poet and Peasant Overture.” Bellefonte Band performs at community events and festivals throughout the summer, and at several nursing homes during the summer and holiday seasons. The band provides funds each year for an award given to a local high school student that allows him or her to attend a summer camp at Penn State University. The scholarship covers the cost of attendance for the week-long camp. The band has received the award of a citation from Kerry Benninghoff, their local member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, in honor of the band’s 25^th Anniversary in 2008. “Our band is a great combination of friendship and musicianship. It’s not uncommon for band members to socialize outside of rehearsals and we pride ourselves in having a welcoming environment for all musicians.” says Jenna Spinelle, member of the Bellefonte Community Band. If you live in the central Pennsylvania area, check out this wonderful community band and see when they are playing next! You can visit the band’s website here: http://bellefonteband.net/