Bandstand Americana

Melbourne Community Orchestra plays on

Staci Rosbury has served as conductor of the Melbourne Municipal Band since 2010.
STEVEN HICKS

Fifty-nine years ago, when her fifth baby was a few months old, Mary Allen joined the Melbourne Municipal Band. Like Allen’s baby, the band was in its infancy — and Allen is still playing the bassoon with them, as the group celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

“MMB always gives me joy,” Allen said. “I have gotten to know many wonderful musicians and conductors. Rehearsals and concerts enriched my life.”

Col. Hal Gibson, who once conducted the legendary U.S. Army Field Band and has often served as a guest conductor, considers Melbourne Municipal Band a prime example of community bands — groups woven firmly into the fabric of America.

“Community bands have been a part of the American heritage, since the early days of the Revolutionary period,” Gibson said.

“Bandstands became a feature of virtually every town, village and city in our burgeoning country. MMB continues to carry on that grand tradition in a stellar manner. It is widely recognized as one of the finest in the nation.”

MMB’s “bandstand” is Melbourne Auditorium, the group’s home for a major number of its concerts. Passersby can also hear music on Tuesday evenings, as MMB’s musicians practice in two adjoining buildings that are home to the band’s rehearsal hall, library, office and storage. Melbourne Community Orchestra also rehearsed at these facilities, until last year.

“The City of Melbourne recognizes the value that the free MMB concerts provide and gives us use of the auditorium at no charge,” said MMB president Dave Hutson. “We are very grateful for their generosity, especially as we face financial challenges posed by the cancellation of state and county funding for the arts.”

The 36-year-old Melbourne Community Orchestra has a similar arrangement with the city. “MCO was a spin-off of MMB,” Hutson said. “Once MCO became self-sufficient, it also became its own 501[c][3] organization.”

Hal Gibson, the longest living conductor of the U.S. Army Field Band, led Melbourne Municipal Band during a special concert celebrating his 100th birthday last year. JOHN MESHELANY JR.

Since 1965, Melbourne Municipal Band has been making sweet music for South Brevard residents. MELBOURNE MUNICIPAL BAND

SWING TIME

MMB’s 3-2-1 Jazz Orchestra delivers an electrifying jazz experience with a rich repertoire from swing era classics to contemporary jazz and Latin grooves. MELBOURNE MUNICIPAL BAND

There is no shortage of music in Melbourne: In addition to MMB and MCO, the New Horizons Band attracts both musicians who haven’t played in a while, as well as complete musical neophytes. New Horizons often serves as a feeder program for MMB.

Approximately 120 musicians, ranging in age from teens to 80-somethings, donate their talents to MMB. One third are professional musicians and many, like Gibson, are alumni of top military bands or nationally known musical groups. Others may be retired or still in high school. Some make a living at a variety of professions, from manufacturing engineers and dental technicians to U.S. Postal Service workers and attorneys. 

During the day, Shellby Pizzuto is a systems engineer for Northrop Grumman, but the 30-year-old happily shares her spare time to be an oboe player for the band.

“Music is a great outlet from daily life and being able to play with such a wonderful and diverse group of people has been such a blast,” Pizzuto said.

Spouses, siblings, parents and children play together in this multi-generational group. Robin Krasny considers the band part of her DNA.

“I was literally born into the band, as my mother, Althea Krasny, was an original charter member,” Krasny said.

“I followed in her footsteps on clarinet. Witnessing and performing in thousands of concerts over the years, I have a deep respect for the efforts of members and supporters who have kept this band performing for free for over half a century. Like my mom, and so many other members before me, I plan on playing for as long as I can.” 

Conductor Staci Rosbury, who has led the group since 2010, knows how special her musicians and audiences are. “It is rare to find a community music group so large and far reaching,” she said.

“We have a very loyal audience, concert after concert. One way we attract different kinds of people to our concerts is through our themed concerts. One person might not be interested in a strictly classical music program, but they’d love to come to a space-themed concert. I am more than willing to stretch a theme to include a great piece of music.”

Last season, more than 11,000 music lovers from throughout the county enjoyed MMB’s robust slate of concerts and dances at the auditorium and various other venues. Given the number of performances by the full concert band and by its ensembles — the 3-2-1 Jazz Orchestra, the Oh Golly Dixieland Band, Adagio Sax Quartet, 3 Gen Flutes, Swingtimers Vocal Trio, the Mel-Bones, Sunshine Brass Quintet, Rock & Roll Revue and Swingtime Lite — MMB is one busy group of musicians. In February alone, the schedule includes four concerts plus a Valentine’s Day dance.

Conductor Rosbury leads MMB at the Association of Concert Bands convention in 2023. TERRI LEACH

The Clarinetics are one of several MMB ensembles. STACI ROSBURY

NEW KIDS

MMB practices weekly at Melbourne Auditorium. TERRI LEACH

Every summer, MMB supports the next generation of musicians with its free Summer Youth Band. “The Summer Youth Band program is a great way for students to learn to play an instrument, or gain more proficiency and self-confidence,” said Ben Gonzalez, program coordinator. “Not only is the program fun, but students take with them skills that serve them well in other areas of their lives.”

Free summer lessons are offered to the youth band, which includes approximately 70 students in grades 6 through 12. The program helps students interested in learning to play a musical instrument, as well as those who are already proficient with wind or percussion instruments. The band even helps them secure an instrument. The program concludes with a concert for parents and the public. 

The Summer Youth Band was launched in 2008 by Art Martin, now conductor of the Rock & Roll Revue. Martin’s background reflects the quality of the talent within the band. As a woodwind specialist, Martin has performed with The Drifters, The Platters, Little Anthony, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry and the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, to name a few.

Conductor A.V. “Chick” Catterton launched MMB in 1965 with 16 musicians — including current clarinetist Robin Krasny’s mom. During the past six decades, it has performed in the Bahamas, Brussels and Amsterdam, at the Bicentennial concert at Kennedy Space Center and for President Ronald Reagan when he visited Brevard. Challenges like the pandemic, finances and even the instant gratification of technology have impacted the band — but the group prevails. 

“We have lots of people who want to play their instruments and new audience members coming in all the time who want to listen,” Rosbury said. “In the last year, we’ve had several new members fresh out of college. As young professionals, they are committed to making time in their schedules for music. It is powerful.”

Through hundreds of concerts, dances, educational programs and special performances, the Melbourne Municipal Band has remained laser-focused on enriching the community through music.

“MMB is a testament to the joy that sharing music brings,” Krasny said.

Conducted by Art Martin, the Rock & Roll Revue is a 12-piece group that plays popular music from the 1950s through the 1970s. The ensemble includes an eight-piece combo, vocalist Tony Schillizzi, and the Swingtimers Vocal Trio, consisting of Diana Sageser, Dave Hutson and Robin Krasny.

A conductor for all reasons

Last year, Melbourne Municipal Band honored Col. Hal Gibson — the longest living conductor of the U.S. Army Field Band — with a special concert celebrating his 100th birthday. As he had done many times, Gibson was a guest conductor.

Gibson has led bands at every level of the military and was chosen from among bandleaders in all the services to form and conduct the Department of Defense Band, which represented the armed forces during the nation’s Bicentennial. It has been called the greatest military band ever assembled. 

He was inducted into the National Hall of Fame for Distinguished Band Conductors in 2004 and was the first recipient of the National Band Association’s Al and Gladys Wright Legacy Award for lifetime achievement. 

When the colonel retired to Melbourne, he didn’t retire from music: he launched the Space Coast Winds and often stepped in as guest conductor for MMB’s concert band and Swingtime ensemble.

See the original article in print publication