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Alumni Band marks 25 years

Published May 16. 2019 11:18AM
by Dana Grubb Special to the Bethlehem Press

In 1991 former Liberty HS Grenadier Band director Ron Sherry formed a band comprised of former Liberty musicians to perform in the City of Bethlehem’s 250th anniversary parade. Over 300 alumni responded coming from 35 plus states. From that one event, many in the alumni band continued playing and in 1995 they performed their first free public concert together.

On March 8, the Liberty HS Alumni Band celebrated its 25th anniversary by performing a free concert in the Liberty HS auditorium. These days the band is comprised of just over 70 musicians, over half whom actually played at Liberty HS as students.

And, as they did directing the Liberty HS Grenadier Band, Greg MacGill has followed Sherry as director of the Alumni Band. Sherry says he is now “retired,” yet he made a guest appearance directing the Alumni Band on two numbers, including the John Philip Sousa finale, “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

The Alumni Band features a number of charter members including Patti Hale (bassoon), Sandra Cassella (first clarinet), Patty Coxe (second clarinet), George Van Doren (solo trumpet), Joe Bartera (first trumpet), Jessica Lee (euphonium), Edward Connors Jr. (trombone), Anthony Louie (percussion), Mike Flaska (sousaphone) and committee members Gini Grube, Darlene Miller, Pat Palhofski and Dick Roberts.

The concert also featured guest conductor, Major David Marshall, retired music director for Her Majesty’s Royal Coldstream Guards, the Liberty HS Alumni Pipers under the direction of James Ruhf, and guest trombone soloist Rob Stoneback.

The Liberty HS Alumni Band also performed a free John Philip Sousa Concert with the Easton Municipal Band April 28.

Current Liberty HS Alumni Band director Greg MacGill and Alumni Band director emeritus Ron Sherry look at some photos from the band’s history prior to a recent rehearsal. Sherry directed the Liberty HS Grenadier Band from 1961 to 1991 and MacGill followed in his footsteps, directing the Grenadiers from 1991 to 2010.
Christa Daukshus of Easton unpacks her alto sax and prepares to insert the reed before rehearsal begins.
Alumni Band director Greg MacGill gives band members some direction at the start of rehearsal.
Karen Wisser and Lori Schofer Newman play their clarinets during rehearsal. Both attended Liberty HS and were members of the Grenadier Band.
Jessica Lee and her alumni bandmates rehearse for the 25th anniversary band concert March 8 in the Liberty HS auditorium.
Director emeritus Ron Sherry runs the Alumni Band through “Yorktown.” “It’s a good band, said Sherry, “I’m very fond of them.”
The Alumni Band trumpets are featured on the number “Yorktown.”