Cooperstown Community Band celebrates 150th anniversary

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THE COOPERSTOWN COMMUNITY BAND performs Wednesday at the Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown. The band, celebrating its 150th year, will play its final concert of the year Sunday, Sept. 4 at 2 p.m. at the Otesaga. Photo by Benjamin Patton.

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August 25, 2011

By Jake Palmateer Staff Writer The Daily Star Thu Aug 25, 2011, 08:09 AM EDT

With roots in the Civil War era, the Cooperstown Community Band is celebrating its 150th year.

The band was recognized Wednesday night with a state Senate resolution presented by Sen. James L. Seward, R-Milford. Seward lauded the all-volunteer band during its weekly gig at the Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown.

“They are very excited about that,” Solomon said.

The Otsego County Board of Representatives in May issued a similar proclamation recognizing the group’s longevity.

“Sen. Seward is actually a frequent attendee of the band,” the resolution said.

The band’s roots reach back to around the time of the start of the Civil War. In 1862, 13 members were hired to be the band of New York’s 66th Regiment.

“I think it’s one of the oldest community bands in the nation,” conductor Julie Solomon said Wednesday afternoon. “I see another 150 years.” Today, the band has 45 musicians from the region, and members range in age from 9 to 89.

The band has been playing all these years “just for the passion,” Solomon said. “It’s really an amazing thing. It’s a very strong group of people who love what they do.”

A majority of members live in Otsego County, but others come from Chenango, Delaware, Herkimer, Montgomery and Schoharie counties.

Solomon said it was great to get the recognition from both county representatives and the state Senate.

“I am very pleased,” she said. “As a conductor, I have the best job on Earth. It’s a volunteer group; those people want to play.”

The band typically plays marches, selections from musicals and standard concert pieces, with about 16 concerts each summer, Solomon said.

The band, which is always looking for new members, is playing its finale concert on Labor Day Weekend.

The finale is the highlight of the season, Solomon said, and will be at 2 p.m. Sept. 4 at the Otesaga.

Band members performing this summer include: Sally Goodwin, Lily Wadsworth, Muriel Beattie, Tom Beattie, Tim Williammee, Paul Tobler, Arnie Jungkind, Ed Badgley, Amy Herr, Beth Lesko, Janice Pahls, Chris Pahls, Merle Young, Liza Hendricks, Krista Porter, Hetty Adams, Karen Dunlap, Gretchen Becker, Rod Carter, Jim Peters, Bill Shaul, Geoffrey Schaffer, Gary Schaffer, Patty Gracey, Brent Leonard, Sheila Naar, Josh Naar, Ryan Crouse, Tom Huntsman, Ted Peters, Marty Kelly, Ron Johnson, Julie Solomon, Samuel Solomon, Museyb Shareef, Kate Resnick, Brittney Crouse, Jake Muehl, Jake Anderson, Therese Gigliotti, Joe Mone, Sarah Hovick, Allen Hills, Tim Siegel, Jack Siegel and Sarah Siegel.