Village Band Takes Music Back to its Fundamentals
Doris Powers
June 2001
As an advocate of amateur music making, Jeffrey Fuchs' eyes light up when he
speaks of the Village Band.
When Fuchs, the band's conductor as well as UNC's director of athletic bands and
coordinator of band activities, sees the laughter and bonding among musicians in
the Village Band, he is thrilled to be a part of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro group.
"In fact," he said, "the rehearsals and concerts are among my most cherished hours
of the week. We (in education) do music so people young and old can do music
throughout their lives."
"We love to have a good time and good crowds at our concerts," said Walt Martin,
tenor saxophonist and president of the organization.
"It's nice to get into a group and just play," said Devon Hale-Smith, who plays flute
and piccolo and is a recent UNC graduate and former drum major with the UNC
Marching Band.
The 50-member Village Band, one of four community bands in the Triangle,
performs seven to nine concerts a season -- a high number for an amateur group
that rehearses only two hours per week.
The band, under Fuchs' leadership, takes its music to places where people are
already gathered for special occasions: the Carrboro Mother's Day celebration in May
and Fete de la Musique in June. The band presents Halloween and Christmas
musical celebrations at Carol Woods and Carolina Meadows.
"It is so satisfying to provide entertainment for older people," said Sue Ellen Hiers,
who plays French horn.
Of course, a Fourth of July celebration needs a band, and the Village Band will give
two concerts this coming July 4: one in front of the Carrboro Town Hall at 11 a.m.,
and another at the Horace Williams House. The latter, sponsored by the Chapel Hill
Preservation Society, starts at 2 p.m. and includes not only the band concert, but
also opening remarks, a clown for children, Uncle Sam played by UNC-TV personality
and columnist D.G. Martin, and an old-fashioned ice-cream social.
The band's program on July 4 will include Duke Ellington's "Symphonic Duke,"
Meacham's "American Patrol," a new piece by Warren Barker titled "New York: 1927,"
selections from Lerner and Loewe's "My Fair Lady," the "Armed Forces Salute" and,
of course, Sousa's "Stars and Stripes." Now what could be better on a hot, muggy
holiday afternoon? Or even on a cool, dry one?
The Village Band draws to its ranks a cross-section of people -- doctors, pilots,
software engineers, lawyers, school counselors and retirees. Ages range from those
who are 20-something to octogenarians.
Most members have had significant training on their instruments through early
years and high school, and some in college. Many have come back to their playing
after a hiatus of 20 years. They get their lips back up to strength, and all of them
serve the community enthusiastically with their music.
Eighty-eight-year-old Ralph Todd, a cornet player and charter member of the band,
said, "I've seen a lot in the band. We started out in 1974 with 20 members. Through
the years we have had many fine conductors."
Fuchs, who is completing his second year with the band, selects a wide variety of
literature. He is also keenly aware of the communication aspects of music.
"I love to elicit or calm feelings in an audience," Fuchs said. "Their response and
emotion is important to me."
And he knows just how to place the players in musically demanding situations.
"He picks music that is challenging so we have to practice, but not so hard that it is
frustrating," said Joe Lowman, who plays tuba.
Fuchs inspires the musicians to practice and improve. "He picks neat, wonderful
pieces for horn, ones that don't have so many after-beats," said Hiers.
The visit to a Village Band rehearsal last October by internationally acclaimed
conductor Frederick Fennell stands as a highlight in this season's opportunities.
Best known for his leadership in the wind ensemble movement, Fennell, who at age
86 commands a radiating vitality, praised this band's efforts.
"He was so gracious to come conduct the Village Band while he was at UNC working
with students," said Alan Fearing, who plays euphonium with the band. "He inspired
us by saying we were the kind of people who made music work at the grass roots
level, and because of that he was thrilled to be there."
"He was just a hoot," said Martin. "One of my friends said it was like meeting the
Pope, only more fun. Fennell had a very quiet but effective way of getting us to be
keenly aware of what was going on with the baton and with following a conductor's
directions."
The organization's activities are carried by its officers and directors, which include
Jane Williams, vice president; Catherine Moore, treasurer; Alan Fearing and Steve
Nesnow, directors.
The Village Band welcomes anyone who would like to join the group -- there are no
auditions. Rehearsals take place on Mondays from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the American
Legion Hall on Legion Road in Chapel Hill. To cover expenses, modest dues from
each person per semester are recommended. For information, contact Walt Martin,
966-9919 or wemartin@med.unc.edu, and visit the Web site, http://
www.thevillageband.org
If you have information about concerts, send it to Doris Powers at
classicalthemes@juno.com