Joanne Williams
Editor

(Courtesy photo – The Charlotte Community Band is looking for musicians. The group gathers weekly to rehearse and keep music alive throughout Eaton County.)

Is there a lonely tuba, trumpet, tenor saxophone, or oboe in a hallway closet at home?

Jame McRae will help you revive it again by joining the Charlotte Community Band.

McRae, a history/social studies teacher at Charlotte High School is the band’s music director and conductor and has been with the group since its founding in January 2013.

A native of Charlotte (since he was 2-years-old), McRae attended Charlotte High School where he played clarinet with Dr. Gary Sullivan.

History was his major at Albion College, but music remained. 

He is looking at people like himself who have a passion for music and community and would like to continue playing with other musicians.

Most musicians do want “the opportunity to play,” he said, and community bands offer that chance. He himself performs in area bands as well.

While the Charlotte Community Band has about 80 members, McRae said recruiting is a big part of his planning time. There are specific instrument sections to keep populated, and room for more at any time.

“We try not to ask too much of their time,” McRae said of his musicians. Rehearsals are once a week, Thursdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Charlotte Middle School. Rehearsals begin Aug. 20 this year and go into next June. The first scheduled concert of the season is Oct. 8.

“It’s muscle memory,” McRae said about picking up an instrument and joining the band. He says by the third rehearsal, most folks hit their stride.

There is no cost to join or perform in the band and if an instrument is needed, McRae has been able to locate them to borrow.

According to The Association of Concert Bands (of which Charlotte is a member), community bands date back to the American Revolution. There are about 1,000 in cities and towns across the nation, performing everything from patriotic tunes to Broadway melodies.

The Charlotte Community Jazz Ensemble is also part of the Community Band family, and many players perform in each ensemble. The Jazz group, under the direction of Matthew Winright, will be performing at 5 p.m., on July 25, a Saturday, at the Commons at the First Congregational Church, at the corner of Bostwick and Lawrence. Bring a lawn chair for the outdoor concert.

For information about joining the band, visit the webpage at charlottecommunityband.weebly.com. or email charlottecommunityband@gmail.com, or visit the band’s Facebook page.

Film director Alice Elliott wrote this about community bands, “If bands didn’t play this kind of music, the songs would be lost because they’re not played on the radio, they’re not taught in music schools. So, these bands are doing a service reminding us of historical American music, trends in American music, music that’s been brought over by people all over the world.”