From Mickey Mouse to Johann Strauss, Demkee could conduct them all
Ask Ronald Demkee to conduct the Allentown Symphony Pops in an all-James Bond program and he’s sure to have the audience both shaken and stirred. He’ll take on a Gustav Mahler song cycle as easily as conduct a tribute to the queen of song, Ella Fitzgerald. His numerous awards and citations include the Allentown Arts Council’s first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.
As quick with his baton as 007 with his PPK, nobody does it better.
Demkee, Allentown Symphony Orchestra Associate/Pops Conductor and Principal Tuba, will retire after the orchestra’s 20232024 season, which will be his 45th as a member of the ASO. Coincidentally, this year also marks his 45th as conductor of the Allentown Band, a position he solidly maintains.
That’s a long time to extract a living from performing and conducting in the music world, yet Demkee’s musical journey spans much longer, when one considers his teaching responsibilities.
“I started teaching in 1965, with 32 years in public schools, 30 of which were as Band and Orchestra Director at Freedom High School in Bethlehem. That was followed by another 18 years as an adjunct instructor in the music departments of Muhlenberg and Moravian Colleges,” Demkee says.
Add to that his concurrent responsibilities with the Allentown Band, and one might joke that Demkee never needed a “real” job. “You know, I always was confused by the phrase ‘musicians play, they don’t actually work.’ But there is some truth to that. If you really enjoy what you are doing, you are sort of playing,” he says.
A Whitehall native, Demkee’s tenure with the Allentown Symphony dates back to the 1979-1980 season, when he became Principal Tuba and first performed in that role in January 1980. He became the Orchestra’s Associate Conductor in 1983, which included assisting founding Music Director Donald Voorhees and occasionally leading classical rehearsals and concerts for Voorhees and his successor, William Smith.
Demkee has also conducted Young
Peoples Concerts, Holiday Concerts, numerous annual performances of “The Nutcracker” with the Repertory Dance Theatre, and most Pops concert programs. As the ASO began presenting more Pops concerts about a decade ago, Demkee was promoted to Associate/ Pops Conductor. He also served as Orchestra Personnel Manager for 30 years.
“Ron was the best personnel manager ever,” says ASO conductor and music director Diane Wittry. “Both as a conductor and manager, he’s helped us through so many different situations. He always knew the right thing to say during a tense moment, be it a little joke or something that would keep everybody in a positive spirit.”
ASO executive director Al Jacobsen agrees.
“If anything makes Ron an unsung hero out of his total work with the Allentown Symphony, it would be his work as personnel manager,” explains Jacobsen. “There was no applause from an audience for that work. He had just the right personality and organizational skills for it.”
What’s that, a musician with organizational skills? You bet. “He’s meticulous — everything he does has to be just right, with great attention to the details” says former ASO principal clarinetist John Schwartz. In fact, Schwartz’s tenure with the ASO even exceeds Ron’s. He announced his retirement from the orchestra in May, after serving 57 years.
“I’ve known Ron for quite a long time. He’s been a joy to work with — a friendly, happy person who at the same time is an extremely hard worker,” Schwartz says. “He’s very patient, which you have to be with some musicians, and he’s especially complimentary to musicians — you don’t always get that positive feedback.”
Demkee’s sense of humor is probably something that comes with the territory of playing the tuba. The bassoon has typically been an orchestra’s resident class clown, but the tuba has been gaining ground. Says Demkee, “I’ve noticed just recently some TV commercials are finally getting it right — it’s the tuba that’s now the comedian.” (The tuba has even gotten into politics. Check out Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Michael Screnock’s 2018 TV ad on YouTube.)
Having a sense of humor is a valuable asset when the going gets rough. “We always appreciated Ron’s calm sense of humor and ability to roll with whatever was happening,” says Wittry. “When scores were received late, if there were licensing issues or repertoire changes, he always dealt with them with a smile on his face and a great attitude.”
So how does one end up playing the tuba? The usual story is the kid who’s stuck with the tuba is the one who shows up late for his first band practice, and that’s the only instrument left.
“Actually that’s not such a far variation from my own case,” says Demkee. “What happened was I started playing the trumpet in 7th grade. By 9th grade, my high school band director was in need of a tuba and asked if I would like to try it. So I did, and in 9th grade, I was in the district band playing the tuba. I enjoyed it and stayed with it.”
Typical of Demkee’s modesty, when asked about his most rewarding moments with the ASO, he prefers to talk about the virtues of those he’s worked with. “Voorhees’ strengths were his connections with artists he brought in from New York City — big name artists. He could really relate to the soloists. In fact, my very first time playing with the orchestra was in a concert which featured Benny Goodman, with Voorhees conducting.”
Demkee also admired William Smith for his teaching ability. “He had the patience to work with amateur musicians, who we mostly were in those days,” he says. “Then of course there is Diane, who has brought a completely new level of interesting programming to the orchestra. She’s expanded the literature, brought in choruses, dancers, and visual media. Our educational outreach has also grown significantly with Diane, and that’s one of the special things for me.”
Still, Denkee fondly recalls some special personal moments, especially when covering for Smith during that conductor’s protracted illness. “I especially treasure conducting pianist Rudolf Firkušný in the Dvorak piano concerto. I remember his gracious comments on how much he appreciated the orchestra,” Demkee says. “On another program we had Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano Joyce Castle sing Mahler’s “Rückert Lieder,” which was so beautiful.”
In the pops vein, Demkee fondly recalls conducting an ASO Pops tribute concert to Ella Fitzgerald featuring Broadway performer Capathia Jenkins. The Disney pops programs, however, hold a special place in his heart. “Those are so special because you look out there and see kids and parents and grandparents — three generations enjoying something together. That’s really special — it’s music that connects with the whole community,” he says.
Connecting with the greater community is probably what matters most to Demkee. “I’ve been a part of the orchestra as it grew from what you might call a community orchestra to a regional orchestra,” he says. “It goes so much deeper than just playing an instrument. There have been rewarding concert experiences but also friendships that last a long time, interaction with the community, and the educational outreach. I just feel so grateful and blessed to be a part of it.”