GALION — The Galion Community Band will perform its second summer concert on Sunday, Aug. 4 at 6 p.m. in the pavilion of the First United Church of Christ located at 248 Harding Way West in Galion.
This concert will honor Lew Friend, an original member of the first Community Band and longtime musician and band instructor at Mansfield St. Peter’s School. The concert is free and open to all. A free will donation is requested.
Audience members are asked to bring lawn chairs to enjoy this outdoor concert. In the event of rain, the concert will move to the sanctuary of the First UCC.
The concert will include some of Lew’s favorite works. The planned concert order is “The Star-Spangled Banner” harmonized by Damrosch and arranged by Sousa, “The Chimes of Liberty” by Goldman, arranged by Schissel, “A Trumpeter’s Lullaby” Anderson arranged by Lang, “The U.S. Field Artillery” by Sousa arranged by Lake, “The Symphonic Beatles” by Lennon & McCartney arranged by Cacavas, “The First Suite in Eb for Military Band” by Holst, “Valdres” by Hannsen arranged by Curnow.
The Galion Community Band started in 1976 for the nation’s Bicentennial under the direction of Tom Bowman and has played almost every year since. The current director is Brian Treisch.
Band members are from Galion and the surrounding area.
“We have a fair number of talented students in the band this year from Galion, Crestline, Northmor, Col. Crawford, Shelby and Clear Fork schools as well as talented adults. I believe our age range is from 15 to 68,” said Treisch.
Lew Friend is a Galion graduate who first played in the Community Band while in high school. His music career took him to the Army band where he served for nine years in active duty then eleven years in the Ohio Army National guard.
After a brief time in the private sector, Lew returned to Ashland University where he completed his degree in music education.
Lew taught at the Malabar Middle School, Morgan County Local Schools, St. Peters and St. Mary schools. He has performed with many area jazz bands, the Mansfield Musicians Union and various combos. He recently retired from St. Peter’s Schools in Mansfield.
The Community Band is made possible by the donations of the audience and the support of these businesses and individuals – The Galion Community Foundation, Metronome Music, Bill & Marilyn Stepro, the Galion Kiwanis, Brian & Brenda Treisch, Schneider Funeral Home, H. R. Wolf Hardware, Phil’s Deli. Support also comes from the Galion City Schools and the First United Church of Christ.