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Repasz Band - 1996
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Repasz Band Honors 75-Year Member |
| Our November 2006 Holiday Concert was a tribute to Sammy Ray, a
well-known local musician and retired businessman who has played saxophone with the Repasz
Band since he was a teenager. In addition to being a consummate musician and friend
to all, Sammy has been a mentor and coach for current and past band members as well as
having taught students who went on to perform professionally in New York City. He
has performed for many dignitaries and celebrities. However, none of those
experiences was more important to him than playing with his own dance band, which is still
active. He loves to play music that the people love to listen and dance to. November 21-22 was "Sammy Ray Day" in Williamsport,
as proclaimed by Mayor Mary Wolf. In addition to the official presentation by the Mayor,
Sammy was presented with a recognition plaque by the Band's President, David Bailey.
A commemorative photo of Sammy with his sax will be displayed on the Band's Wall of Honor. |
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Windsor
Park series features Repasz Band . . . |
As we bring the year celebration of our 175th Anniversary to a close, the Repasz
Band is featured in two episodes of the Windsor Park Stories on WBRE
television (channel 28), Christmas in Windsor Park.
Two different episodes which aired on December 17 and 24, 2006. Selections from our 2006 Holiday Concert were highlighted in these
broadcasts. Episodes may be viewed online at the Windsor Park Theatre website
( http://www.windsorparktheater.com/ ). |
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| Stay tuned in the Spring for a major
"feature story" on the Repasz Band. Details will be posted here in the
coming months. |
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In Memoriam
50-Year Member, Edward G. Murray, Jr. (1955-2005)It
is with great sadness that the members of the Repasz Band note the passing of one of our
long-time members, Mr. Edward Murray, on January 10, 2005. Ed was a dedicated
member of the clarinet section from 1955 through the present. He served two terms as
Band President (1966; 2002). Ed has been missed by the band over the past two years
as his illness prevented his regular attendance at rehearsals.
Services will be held on Thursday, January 13, 2005 at 1 p.m. at Maneval's Funeral
Home, with a visitation from 11-1 p.m., with burial at Twin Hills cemetery.
It was Ed's wish that memorial donations in
his name be made to the Repasz Band*,117 West Hills Drive, Williamsport, PA 17701.
* a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization |
Repasz Band
Receives Prestigious Sousa Award (2004)
by Joseph W. Smith, III,
Sun-Gazette Correspondent"The
prestigious Sudler Scroll Historic Band Award has been awarded to only four American
musical ensembles - and Williamsport's Repasz Band is one of them.
Conferred by the John Philip Sousa
Foundation, the Sudler Historic Community Band Award honors bands that show 'particularly
high standards of excellence in concert activities' and play 'a leading role in the
cultural and musical environment in their communities.'
The award will be presented at the
Band's Spring Concert, 3 p.m. Sunday (April 25, 2004) in the Scottish Rite Auditorium; on
hand to do the honors will be Warren Wilson of the Allentown Band, a past recipient.
The only other groups to receive the Silver Scroll are the Naperville, Ill., Municipal
Band and the Lafayette, Inc. Citizens Band. Also on hand at the concert will be
Williamsport Mayor Mary Wolf.
Chief among the prerequisites is a
stipulation that any band applying for the award must demonstrate at least 100 years of
existence. That wasn't a problem for the Repasz group, which will observe its 175th
anniversary in 2006.
Dating back to 1831, the Band played at
Appomattox when Lee surrendered to Grant in 1965; the Band also played at the 1897
dedication of Grant's Tomb in New York City, and again when the memorial was rededicated
in 1997.
The Repasz roster currently boasts a
record number 95 members, ranging in age from 12 to 87. At least a quarter of these
have seen 25 or more years of service in the Band.
Under the baton of Albert J. Nacinovich
- now in his 31st year as conductor - the group currently plays approximately 20 free
concerts each year.
In order to qualify for the award, the
Band submitted a CD of its repertoire, plus a scrapbook of concert programs, news
clippings, photos and letters of recommendation from other band directors and local
citizens.
Totaling well over 300 pages, this
impressive document includes materials dating back to 1899. In its congratulatory
letter, the Silver Scroll Committee said the Band's printed materials 'were among some of
the very best ever submitted.' "
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| Repasz Band
Featured in PBS Documentary (2003) The WPSX-TV production entitled "HOMETOWN STORIES:
WILLIAMSPORT" has been broadcast several times during 2003 and 2004.
"The people of Williamsport really
opened up their attics for us" said producer/director Patrick Mansell.
"From Taber Museum, to Little League and the Original League, to private collections,
folks in the Williamsport community were very helpful. It's a community with a
fascinating history and we were very honored to be able to tell a few of the grand
stories. Williamsport's own bit of living history, the "Repasz Band" - a
continuous tradition since 19831 - was one of five significant historical
"events" featured in this award-winning documentary.
If you've ever driven down
"Millionaires' Row," gone for a ride in a horse-drawn carriage or hit a home run
on the first Little League field in the world, you have probably experienced Williamsport,
Pennsylvania. Hidden behind the mid-sized stature of this blue-collar Pennsylvania
town lies a deep and rich cultural history that involves some of the most fascinating and
culturally significant stories ever told. Learn about the lilac bush that - in some
strange way - inspired Carl Stotz to organize the world's first Little League baseball
team. Next, learn about the German-born immigrant artist who lived in Williamsport
whose work once hung in the White House. Similarly, learn the story of Peter Herdic,
the eccentric millionaire who built a 400 room hotel in Williamsport - during the height
of the Civil War - and then invented a new type of horse drawn carriage to transport
guests to and from his elaborate hotel. Learn how Herdic, the wealthy creator of
Williamsport's "Millionaire's Row" actually died penniless, unable to afford a
headstone for his own grave. These stories and more [ed. a segment on the Lamade
family and their Grit newspaper legacy was included in the documentary but not
televised] will be featured on Hometown Stories: Williamsport, so be sure
to tune in." (WPSX Press Release, July 25, 2003 |
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Great-great-grandnephews of our namesake,
Daniel Repasz, joined us
in concert
at Muncy Valley Hospital
Tuesday, July 31, 2001
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at Kramm's Nursing Home (Milton)
Wednesday, August 1, 2001
| Morris Repass and his brother,
Ernie, performed in concert with the Repasz Band on July 31 at Muncy Valley Hospital and
on August 1 at Kramm's Nursing Home in Milton, PA. In recent correspondence with our Director, Morris stated "We
are both really looking forward to hearing the band. I will bring my trombone and
Ernie will bring his tuba mouthpiece."
Both are top-notch professional musicians.
Morris played with the Dallas Symphony for a while and the Les Brown Band for many
years. His is currently "very busy in the studios and preparing to take the
Billy Vaughn Orchestra (Billy has been dead for 8 yrs.) to its bi-annual tour of Japan
June 18-July 16.
There are 17 musicians and 3 lady singers I must
corral, get work visas for, choose a program and rehearse before we leave! (19
concerts)! This, in addition to my studio calls, keeps me out of trouble and off the
streets!" [Biographical information on Morris Repass is available on Trombone Page of the World - click here
for more info.]
Brother Ernie Repass is retired from school band
directing in Texas but he also free-lances playing bass and tuba with groups in the Ft.
Worth-Dallas area. For more information on the Repass family, click here
to go to the family's homepage.
Members of the Repasz Band were thrilled to have a
long-awaited opportunity to meet family members of one of the most important members in
our Band's history. We enjoyed hosting the brothers and sharing our history, as well
as some musical camaraderie with them. |
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For previous years' performance schedules, click here.
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