Wellesley Town Band gets in the holiday spirit with new conductor

Ever since its start in 2013, The Wellesley Town Band has been a town-wide community project. Started by Wellesley resident Neil Glick and retired Wellesley Middle School conductor Henry Platt, with a group of just 13 musicians, the band has always been a pitch in and get things done kind of affair. The Wellesley Cultural Council helps fund the band; the high school provides Monday-night practice space; Tory DeFazio at Windsor Press prints the concert programs; Roche Brothers donates refreshments for concerts; and Wellesley Public Media records every show; just to name a few benefactors.

It’s this sense of community that first struck new band conductor Pam Choinski, who picked up the baton last September. She appreciates that “Community is the number one aspect along with the music, but it’s that communal element of making music together across generations.”

Winter Concert, Dec. 15 at WHS

From its small beginnings, the band now numbers about 60 musicians from Wellesley and nearby communities, and continues to grow. You should go to The Wellesley Town Band’s free Winter Concert on Sunday, December 15, 3pm-4pm, at Wellesley High School, 50 Rice Street to enjoy seasonal songs to get you in the spirit. 

The Band will presents a wide array of music, some old, some new, some holiday themed. “It’s going to be a great concert,” Choinski says. “We’ve all worked super hard to put this together, and I’m excited to finally share it with the audiences.”

PROGRAM:
Vuelo, Salvador Jacobo
English Folk Song Suite, Vaughan Williams
O Magnum Mysterium, Lauridsen, arr. Reynolds
Music from Wicked, arr. Saucedo
Tritsch Tratsch Polka, Strauss, arr. Reed
Ye Banks and Braes o’Bonnie Doon, Percy Grainger
Ukrainian Bell Carol, arr. Philip Sparke
Sleigh Ride, Leroy Anderson

Wellesley Town Band members play for the Red Kettle drive in front of Roche Bros.

Backing up a bit

Choinski, a musician since she picked up percussion and clarinet in elementary school, earned her Master of Arts in Instrumental Conducting and Bachelor of Music in Music Education degrees from the University of New Hampshire. Her 9-5 job is Band Director at Abby Kelley Foster High in Worcester, Mass., the town where she grew up. In addition, she is the Assistant Director of the Windham Community Band. When not conducting, Choinski does clarinet freelance work. All in all, it’s a life infused by the love of music.

The Wellesley Town Band plays over three concerts per year with a variety of music such as contemporary band repertoire, pops music from the orchestral repertoire, and brand-new band music. The tunes she selects ensures there’s something for everybody, both musicians and audiences.

Town Band members range in age from around 22 to retirees. Choinski counts the range in ages as one of the band’s strengths. “We have families playing together in the band, which is pretty unique. It’s good to see that happening,” she says.

The music doesn’t come second to the camaraderie, though. “Obviously, we always try to perform our best,” she says. “We’re always pushing to improve musically, as a group, but at the end of the day it’s a place where people can come and connect with each other and make music together. The instrumentation is great. The people are dedicated, they’re welcoming, and it’s just a really good group.”

And if the musicians are having a hard time with a particular piece, Choinski slows things down and picks the piece apart, bit by bit. “If it’s challenging isn’t going to help, to play it fast, right? It’s all about the process of learning, and muscle memory, and listening, and reading rhythms. I find a lot of my strategies from directing high school bands helps quite a bit with adults.”

“It’s all the same. It’s all music making.”

Be with the band

The Wellesley Town Band rehearses Monday nights, 7pm-8:30pm, at Wellesley High School.  Anybody who plays a band instrument at a high school level or up is welcome.

Be like the band—sign up for the Red Kettle Drive

The Red Kettle needs you! Sign up for a one-hour shift here (or longer!).

In the spirit of the holidays, Red Kettle organizers are grateful to you for sharing your time to help our neighbors!