Membership in the band is open to any individual able to play the music and interested in joining.
A place in our rehearsal room awaits you!
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There have been over 800 members of the band during its history. There are currently 125 active members on roll out of a total of around 250 who have been members in the past ten years, and the ages range from 12 to over 85. We generally have about 70 on stage at typical concerts. Several of the band's active adult members and officers had played in high school or college and then had abandoned their instruments for a number of years before deciding to join the band.
Members include individuals who went for periods up to forty years without playing and who found that they could re-acquire and even exceed their former skills in several weeks of practice and review. In addition, current members of the band are always willing to help prospective members review and relearn their instruments, and ample opportunities exist in the area for excellent private instruction. We can advise you if you wish.
The band actively seeks adult members who were successful in their high school or college bands and high school members who are proficient players and sight-readers and who will be regular in attendance. While we would encourage perfect attendance, we would expect that a new member would attend at least two-thirds of the rehearsals in the fall rehearsal season and three-fourths of the rehearsals in the spring rehearsal season. Currently the band is actively recruiting players for all sections, but in particular for the clarinet, percussion, and french horn sections.
No audition is required of prospective members.
There are no dues or fees. All members are volunteers.
We play the normal array of concert band instruments.
Most members provide their own instruments.
The band owns music stands, music, percussion equipment, tubas,
and a few other instruments for our members to use, so that we have a balanced sound.
If you wish to join us but do not have an instrument, we can help you find one at a reasonable cost.
Individuals become "provisional members" upon participating in a rehearsal or concert, and become full members when voted upon by the membership after three months active participation. Full members have the privilege of voting in band business meetings. Placement within sections of the band is determined cooperatively by members of each section, under the direction of a section leader. Prospective members can contact any current band member or band board member of the band or email the director, Robert N. Moody for information. You can expect to be invited to attend a rehearsal and "give it a try for a few weeks" to see if you enjoy the band enough to make it part of your weekly routine. Most new members discover how much fun it is to play different music each week in a band filled with volunteer members who truly love making music.
Directions to our rehearsal hall:
From I-81 exit 225 take VA 262 "south" to the Churchville Avenue exit. Left on US 250, "Churchville Avenue" at end of the ramp. Bear right at 3rd traffic light. Band room is 100 yards ahead on the right, by the entrance to the park.
From I-81 exit 220 take VA 262 "north" to the "Parkersburg Pike" exit. Right on VA 254 "Parkersburg Pike" which becomes "Beverley Street." Left at 3rd traffic light onto Thornrose Avenue. Band room is 1/2 mile ahead on the left.