Boyertown Alumni Marching Unit to Host 2nd Annual Community Band Extravaganza

 The big brass sound of the 13 strong BAMU trumpets line SunnyBrook Ballroom for the Community Band Extravaganza's afternoon of music .

by Marta J. Weller, (Flutist, Poet, Artist)*
Photographs by Lee Schultz

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

The EXTRA, in this case, is an EXTRAVAGANZA! It is an EXTRA Special Concert with not one but SIX concert bands! In 2024, the Community Band Extravaganza premiered. In 2025, the Boyertown Alumni Marching Unit Concert Band will again be hosting a full afternoon of music in the Historic SunnyBrook Ballroom on Saturday April 12th beginning at 12:00 Noon.

Previously, the Boyertown Alumni Marching Unit (BAMU) has performed in two Community Band Festivals. One took place in Quakertown, and one was held in New York at Lake George. Participating in these Festivals whipped up the desire of BASH graduate and Band Captain Dennis Weller to have BAMU host a Festival as well.

Thinking, planning, plotting over several years involved decisions about location, title of the performance, and participating bands.

Fortunately, Dennis became acquainted with Joel Richardson II, AKA Soul Joel, who had purchased SunnyBrook. After having the Alumni Band perform a Patriotic Concert in the Ballroom in 2023, Joel was interested in having more performances by BAMU in the historic ballroom that he was slowly refurbishing. Dennis discussed the idea with Joel; an agreement was made, and the 2024 Community Band Extravaganza was born.

Following that discussion, Dennis began contacting local community bands, inviting them to participate. Three agreed, and a date for the Extravaganza was set. A ticket price was chosen to help pay for the use of the ballroom, and with posters created, the Extravaganza came to life!

The lineup included: the Exeter Community Band; Pottsgrove Community Band; Quakertown Band; and the Host Band, The Boyertown Alumni Marching Unit Concert Band. In between each concert band performance, while each band exited and the next band set up, small groups from BAMU entertained. The small ensembles were Greg Mest’s Vintage Brass Quintet, Andy Jinks’ B-72s, and Nancy Mest’s Finely Fluted Ensemble.

Dennis Weller directs the Boyertown Alumni Marching Unit Concert Band.

• The Boyertown Alumni Marching Unit Concert Band under the direction of Extravaganza Organizer & Alumni Band. BAMU Band Captain Dennis Weller.

The First Community Band EXTRAVAGANZA was a fantastic success! So much so, that more bands wanted to get in on the act. Therefore, this year there will be EXTRA Bands—two more, in fact—to make this an EXTRA Special Concert! This year the an hour of music in being added by welcoming the Ringgold New Horizons Band and the Red Hill Band.

•  The Alumni Band Percussion section

Six bones provide a solid low sound for the Alumni Band. 

Imagine, an afternoon of music in the Historic SunnyBrook Ballroom where the likes of the Dorsey Brothers, Duke Ellington, and the Glenn Miller Orchestra played, filled once again with the sounds of large concert bands. The Extravaganza starts at noon and there will be music non-stop until 5:00 PM on Saturday, April 12, 2025.

“Saints In Concert," the signature song of the Alumni Band, brings them to their feet to play.  

Another Extra will be the availability of food and beverages for purchase during the concert. The  food served by SunnyBrook’s on-site Pub “Gatsby’s” will be available to order and will be brought to your table in the Ballroom. Additionally, a full bar is in the Ballroom for quenching your thirst.

You won’t want to miss out on this extra special way to spend an afternoon. Tickets for the concert can purchased for $10 + a small fee online via SunnyBrook— SoulJoels.com or for $15 at the door.

* Marta J. Weller, retired librarian, was originally from Minnesota where she met husband Dennis--from Boyertown--at Dana College in Blair, NE, and where they learned that living on the edge of Tornado Alley was just a little too much excitement. Boyertown welcomed them and Marta made a career from her love of books working in the retail book business, as librarian at Boyertown Community Library and then at Exeter Community Library. Since her retirement, she plays flute with the Boyertown Alumni Marching Unit and the flute ensemble Finely Fluted and the Exeter Community Band, arranges music for the flute ensemble, takes photographs, reads, writes poetry and prose, watches birds, loves her pets, and takes road trips. Recently she has self-published a small collection of her poetry, prose, and photography entitled "Word Art: Abbreviated”.

More News from Boyertown

• Studio B Art Gallery Announces Exhibit Opening of "BEARS" In celebration of Bear Fever's 20th anniversary, an exhibit of artwork by the creators of the community art project opens May 2, 2025.
• BASH Class of 1975 Looks Back: The Official Class History The Expression joins the Class of '75 in looking back on its high school days. Check out their official class history.