Still playing strong, Jeannette Community Band marks 35th anniversary

Joe Scarlett was — in his words — sitting “fat, dumb and happy” watching television in 1988 when a friend called and asked him if he still had his clarinet.

“I hadn’t seen it since 1964,” said Scarlett, 76, of Monroeville. “Then I remembered I’d lent it to a friend.”

After retrieving it and sending it away for repairs, Scarlett reconnected with his old instrument and, along with other Jeannette High School alumni and community members, formed the Jeannette Centennial Band to march in a spring ’88 parade making the town’s 100th anniversary.

He had no idea he’d still be playing with that group 35 years later.

“No one wanted to quit,” he said with a laugh. “We were having so much fun, and the original director, John Lodzun, was my first clarinet teacher.”

Today, that group — the Jeannette Community Band — is more than 65 members strong and marks its 35th anniversary this year.

Dan Orange, 84, of Jeannette also is an original member of the band.

“My dad had a dance band in the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s, and I started playing clarinet in that band when I was probably 13 or so,” Orange said. “I started my career at Westinghouse and didn’t play for many years, and then I saw a notice in the paper. It was an opportunity to start playing again, and I haven’t stopped.”

The Jeannette Community Band has played more than 300 concerts since its inception, with most taking place at its rehearsal space, the Jeannette American Legion on South Fifth Street.

“They’re one of the biggest groups we have to thank,” said tuba player Tim Stemple, 68, of Penn Township’s Claridge neighborhood. “They’ve given us a place to rehearse, perform, store our instruments and our music library.”

Below, watch video from the band’s September 2022 performance:

Over the years, some of the band’s performance venues have become staples of its concert season and favorites for the players.

“One of my favorites has always been our Veterans Day concert,” Stemple said. “We usually get color guards from all branches of the services, and we honor them at the concert.”

Lou Conte, 71, of Jeannette played alto saxophone in the band from 1988 to 1999, rejoining in 2021. For him, their annual Christmas concert is a favorite.

“It’s always been one of my favorite holidays, and I really enjoy the music,” Conte said. “Last year, we had our our biggest crowd yet for that performance — standing room only.”

And nearly every performer cites the band’s annual show on the Diamond in downtown Ligonier as a favorite. This year’s Diamond show is set for June 11.

“That one really stands out for me,” Orange said. “It’s such a wonderful setting.”

Stemple agreed.

“It’s really well-attended, and the crowd is always great,” he said.

Joan Garzarelli, 68, of Manor rejoined the band a couple years ago after retiring.

“I’ve been an amateur musician and music lover my whole life,” she said. “Coming back this time has really been meaningful to me, especially after retirement. You need some structure in your life, and the band has been the perfect thing for me.”

There are no dues to join, and the band draws members from across the east suburbs, rehearsing Tuesday nights at the Legion. This year’s performance season will kick off May 28 with a 7 p.m. concert at the Legion, 109 South Fifth Street in Jeannette.

Stemple said he’s looking forward to a piece that invokes the memory of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.

“It starts off musically depicting events on the ship and then goes into a section ‘describing’ the attack,” he said. “The low brass section plays trills that sound like airplane propellers, the percussion is imitating guns and bombs, and there’s just a hint of the Japanese national anthem in it. Then it gives way to the U.S. Navy Hymn and ‘The Star Spangled Banner.’”

The band will play 10 concerts during the season, culminating in the Dec. 17 Christmas show.

“I love how everyone embraces the band and enjoys our music,” Garzarelli said. “I feel like I’m giving back to the community.”

For more, see JCBweb.com.