Charlie’s Beat: Community Concert Band seeks new members

David Mruzek

I did a story on the Madison Community Concert Band some time back, when Mark Johnson was director. But Mark has passed away in the interim and the band is under new leadership. Plus, the band is very much an evolving, adaptable organization, and it merits an occasional check in to see how things are going.

I spoke with David Mruzek who joined the band a few years ago, after retiring from teaching full time at Hanover College. David is the Community Band’s unofficial recruiter and cheerleader. If you play an instrument, or if you ever played even in your distant past, David has a message for you. We’ll get deeper into that in a moment, but first, more background on David and the band.

“I was director of the band and orchestra at Hanover for 16 years,” says David. “I started playing with the band while I was still teaching, usually just doing their summer and Christmas series. But after I retired recently, I’m able to devote more time to it.

“The Community Band is a tremendous resource to our town. It was founded as part of Madison’s Bicentennial celebration back in 2009,

and Mark Johnson was

the driving force behind it. His energy and vision

carried the band beyond

the Bicentennial and turned

it into the vibrant organization that it is today.

“With Mark’s passing, Bill Kindle took over as director. Many people may know Bill from his days as a band director at area schools, and his playing with various local bands like the Madisonians and BG Johnson’s Big Brass Band.

“The band is very active and lots of fun. We meet every Tuesday to practice, in the basement of the Brown Gym. And it’s fair to say it’s as much a social club as it is a musical group. Everybody is so friendly, and the atmosphere is so accommodating. Our philosophy is, no auditions, no pressure, everyone is accepted and made to feel welcome.

“Right now we have about 25 members, but we are always looking for more. I would say to anyone reading this, if you ever played an instrument, even if it was back in high school or with a local band or even just in your bedroom, you can fit in and have a great time with the Community Band. We are all about making music and sharing fellowship.

“The way I look at it, if someone has any past experience playing an instrument, any at all, it’s almost like a second language that you may have learned when you were younger. Once you start using it again, it will all come back to you, with a little practice.

“My vision for the band is for membership to increase, so we can perform an even wider range of music and do more performances. I would encourage anyone to come down on a Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the basement of the Brown Gym and just observe a practice. I’m confident you’ll see how relaxed and fun it is.

“If you want more information or just want to talk about it, my email is [email protected]. Or you can search for our page on Facebook, just type in Madison Indiana Community Concert Band.”

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Take a glance at this weekend’s music calendar. You’ll see about 17 live music options for the weekend, every one of them free with no cover charge, and every one (except for the VFW up on the hilltop) in easy walking distance in the historic downtown music district. I’m not sure the residents of Madison fully understand or appreciate how unique our music scene is. But if you talk to just about any out of town visitor, even from larger towns and cities, you’ll get a very valuable perspective. What we have is special. And we owe a debt of thanks to the venue owners who consistently hire the bands and make it happen. And of course, the musicians who entertain and delight us with some of the best live music this side of Nashville, TN. Welcome to Indiana’s Music City!

Charlie Rohlfing is a retired advertising man and partner in The Red Bicycle Hall music venue. Look for his distinctive fedora bobbing above the crowd, anywhere live local music is happening.

Thursday, Aug. 31

Rivertown Grill – Open Mic

Friday, Sept. 1

Live Lunch at Lytle Park – Jackson Bladen (11:30 a.m.)

The Central – Vaguely Familiar

Riverboat Inn – Joe & Deano

Rivertown Grill – Rock Steady Band

First Street – Matt Red Moore

Mad Paddle – Inside Out

VFW – L&L Karaoke

Saturday, Sept. 2

First Street – L&L Karaoke

The Central – Smokin’ Jokers

The Lighthouse – Michael Anthony Trapp

Rivertown Grill – TBA

Thomas Family Winery – Amy Noel

Taproom – Radio Face

Bicentennial Park – Madisonians (6 p.m.)

Bicentennial Park – The Monarchs (8 p.m.)

Sunday, Sept. 3

Rivertown Grill – Meaux Swafford

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