The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
40 LATER, THE BEAT GOES ON FOR BAND
Lakeland Civic Band celebrates anniversary
Before the Lakeland Civic Band even struck up its first note in public on Nov. 13, 1977, it began a journey toward perfection to which its members remain committed today.
Thanks in part to this unyielding commitment, it’s celebrating 40 years in the entertainment business in 2017 with three performances earmarked to commemorate its big 4-0, said Director Charles Frank, who helped establish the band way back when.
“The quality of performance, what they’re able to do and what they’ve been able to produce, is far superior to what is expected of a community band at this level,” Frank said in a Feb. 27 phone interview. “They actually, how can I say it, overplay themselves, even. It surprises me sometimes.”
He said it’s this kind of consistent improvement and progression that makes it all
worthwhile for him as a director.
“That’s what keeps you going — the successes of the program,” he said. “So you go from one year to the next, asking how you can improve the quality we produce — everything from the heavy, louder sounds to lighter, more precise components.”
He added that it helps that “our band members are really good at selling tickets, too.”
Frank left Wickliffe High School in 1972 to start teaching music at Lakeland and knew right from the start he wanted to see the school organize its own community band, as its jazz ensemble and choir had both been going strong for several years by then and he wanted to attract different kinds of musicians. But it was tough to draw from just the school’s enrollment, he said.
“After five years of a little bit of a fight of trying to build a band just out of student participants, Lakeland’s first president, Dr. Wayne Rodehorst, said to me: “Remember — community is our middle name,” Frank said. “In about three years, we were up to about 75 members. Now we’re up to 90.”
One of those 90 band members — principal oboe player Kathleen Abraham — said in a Feb. 27 phone interview she joined the band 28 years ago after having her first son.
“I was an instrumental music teacher. Then I took maternity leave and I still wanted to keep up with my playing,” she said, adding that she eventually retired from the Kenston Schools and continued on in the band for the same reason.
Abraham agreed with Frank’s sentiment that the band is always improving and that’s part of what’s kept her active in it over the years. In fact, Frank, himself, is a big reason she said she has remained in the band going on 30 years.
“What caused me to stay all these years? His insistence that we perform at a level of professionals, even though none of us is being paid to do it,” Abraham said, adding that Frank puts plenty of personality into what he does for the band.
“Sometimes, it’s a little cajoling. He even yells at us. But it’s all because he cares so much,” she said. “I mean, he really, literally, lives for this group.”
She described the band coining the word “Chuckisms” to describe some of the snarky quips he comes up with, like “Why do I feel you’re behind?” and something about killing snakes, to, in his own unique and special way, describe some technique performed poorly or some other slipup.
Whether the other 89 band members agree is another thing, but one of the other things Abraham said she really enjoys about being a part of it is the creative camaraderie that develops when engaging in artistic endeavors with others.
“I think that, whenever you’re doing something creative, when you do it with a group, that exponentially increases the level of your appreciation for it and your involvement in it,” she said.
That commitment seems contagious, especially after asking Lakeland’s associate dean of arts and sciences, Constance Edwards, who Frank said holds a doctorate of musical arts in bassoon performance, what she thinks of the band.
An administrator at Lakeland since 2015, Edwards said she’s been to every Lakeland Civic Band performance, having even been invited to perform a bassoon solo at its last performance in December.
“Chuck Frank has high standards and demands the best from his performers so they, in turn, rise to the challenge,” she typed in a Feb. 27 e-mail. “The music is always enjoyable and well-performed.”
She agreed the band is a point of pride for Lakeland and listed some of its many notable achievements over the years.
“It has been running for 40 years under one conductor and has performed not only at Lakeland, but also has been invited to perform at state and regional conferences, including the Ohio Music Education Association conferences and the North Central Regional conference of the College Band Directors National Association,” Edwards’ email reads.
“It includes almost 90 members of the community and has a dedicated following in and outside of Lake County.”
Frank also mentioned what an honor it was to be invited to play at Severance Center with the Cleveland Orchestra.
She also credited Frank for his dedication to the group and its development over he years.
“Chuck is extremely hard-working for a man who has been retired for some time. He is adored by the members of the band and has a loyal following,” she writes. “It seems that everywhere I go, someone knows Chuck Frank as he is such a pillar in this community and in the music world of Northeast Ohio.”
Frank, who plans to retire as director in May, said the band’s two remaining anniversary-themed performances are scheduled for March 5 and May 21.
“After five years of a little bit of a fight of trying to build a band just out of student participants, Lakeland’s first president, Dr. Wayne Rodehorst, said to me: “Remember — community is our middle name.” — Lakeland Civic Band Director Charles Frank