ASHLAND, Ohio — The All-Ohio State Fair Band, which was founded in 1925 and has continued to entertain fairgoers while providing educational and enriching experiences to all participants year after year, will perform as part of the Ashland Bicentennial Celebration on Aug. 6 at 8 p.m. at the Guy C. Myers Memorial Band Shell.
The All-Ohio State Fair Band consists of high school students from throughout the state. The band last performed in Ashland on July 31, 2003. It is expected that there will be 205 musicians on stage during the Aug. 6 free performance.
The performance will have special significance and a special display due to the tie to Ashland through the All-Ohio State Fair Band historian Weldon Carpenter, who is a 1954 graduate of Ashland High School and served as drum major at AHS.
Carpenter played in the band when it was under the direction of Dr. Louis Pete, who was fair band director for 35 years as well as band director at Ashland High School.
Carpenter has a large amount of Dr. Louis Pete memorabilia that he will bring to the Ashland show and this memorabilia will be on display starting at 6:30 p.m. that night in the orchestra pit in front of the stage at the Band Shell.
Many things have changed with the fair band over the years. Originally the organization featured only male musicians and now welcomes both males and females. Tents used to make up the living quarters, while now the Rhodes Center is home to The Band and staff.
Many things have not changed. “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” the national march of the United States, still concludes each concert. Each day begins with Reveille and daily inspection and the band members are highly talented musicians and outstanding citizens who have been recommended by their high school band director.
The City of Ashland is celebrating its 200th year anniversary during 2015 and will be hosting many different events as part of the year-long celebration, which is sponsored by Donley Auto Group. For more information on these and other events, please go to the Bicentennial website at http://www.ashland200.com.
