Community bands converge on Murrysville for free annual festival

A classic John Philip Sousa march. Variations on the “Scarborough Fair” theme. Music inspired by the “Lord of the Rings” books.

Musicians from all over the Pittsburgh area will perform music from all over the map at the 18th annual Three Rivers Community Band Festival, set for April 6 in Murrysville.

Steve Baldanzi, 60, of Crafton, this year’s guest conductor, will have a chance to listen to the East Winds Symphonic Band, where he played trumpet more than three decades ago.

“Now my wife and I play in the West Hills Community Band, and I’m also conductor for the Allegheny Brass Band,” Baldanzi said.

Baldanzi will conduct the festival band, made up of members from this year’s performing groups: East Winds, Community Band South and the North Pittsburgh Symphonic Band.

“We’re fortunate in the Pittsburgh area to have so many viable ensembles,” said North Pittsburgh director Tad Greig. “It keeps the arts alive and it gives people who played instruments in their youth a chance to continue.”

For North Pittsburgh’s individual performance, Greig chose a selection of pieces that includes the first movement of Johann de Meij’s symphony based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” book trilogy.

“It’s kind of de Meij’s epic work,” Greig said. “We’ve done multiple movements from it, but this first one has some really nice fanfare.”

This will be the second year for the festival at its new location, Franklin Regional Senior High School’s auditorium.

“We got a very nice crowd last year,” said East Winds’ Roger Schneider, part of the festival’s organizing committee. “I think we got some more folks from the eastern suburbs, where most of our members live. We didn’t have use of the balcony last year, and we made sure to have it available this time.”

For the festival band, Baldanzi chose music he felt would be fun for both the band and audience.

“One piece, ‘American Rhapsody,’ has a lot of Americana songs in it. As a listener, people will be able to recognize and appreciate them,” he said. “My favorite is a piece by Brant Karrick, ‘The Old Red Mill.’ It starts out slow and has a really cool ending with some great harmonies. It’s meant to be as though you’re traveling over an old mill barn.”

Schneider said the festival was well received last year in its new venue.

“We got some wonderful cooperation from (Franklin Regional) Band Director Nick Nutter,” Schneider said. “He really helped us in getting things set up, and the school district was really great to work with.”

The Three Rivers Community Band Festival is at 2 p.m. April 6 (doors at 1 p.m) at the high school, 3200 School Road South in Murrysville. There is no cost to attend, and there will be refreshments following the festival.

The festival funded in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council through its Creative Sector Flex Fund grant program.

For more, see ESWB.org/festival.