The number of faithful members in Greenwood’s Community Concert Band has dwindled to the point that its president isn’t sure the band will be able to put on its next scheduled performance.
“There’s no way that we can put on a concert with the core group of eight or nine people that we’ve got now,” said Leo Murphree. “We can’t make long-range plans. I’ve not even obligated us for our Fourth of July concert that we annually have at First Methodist Church until we find out what we’re going to do.”
The band, formed in 1947, has seen highs and lows in its membership through the decades, but the situation has never been as dire as what it is experiencing now, said Murphree, 75, a longtime leader in the all-volunteer group of musical enthusiasts.
Several longtime members have died in recent years, and three more have health issues and may not be able to return, he said.
The group practices on Monday nights at Leo’s Barn, a museum and events venue owned by Murphree.
Last week, only six instrumentalists showed up, and two of those came from out of town — one from Cleveland, and the other from Winona, he said.
“They can travel and come here, but these people who are located 5 miles or less away won’t show their dedication. ... We’ve got some people who say, ‘I’m coming,’ and won’t do it,” Murphree said.
Although the band has been shored up at times by young musicians from nearby schools, their attendance also tends to be spotty, particularly on Mondays that school is not in session, he said.
“One of the biggest problems we’ve got is that the kids think that just because school’s out on Monday that they don’t have to come to rehearsal.”
Murphree said the group is not picky. It just needs larger numbers of people who can play a musical instrument and are willing to share that talent with the public.
“We need all musicians. We need people with dedication. We’re short in every group. We especially need saxophones, trumpets and clarinets,” Murphree said.
For those with rusty musical skills, the band is a welcoming place, he said.
“There are no prima donnas. Nobody should come into any of our rehearsals and feel unnecessary. Nobody is going to make fun of them.”
Murphree said the band’s director, Russell Baxter, will help those who haven’t played much recently to get back up to speed.
“He’ll take the time with the ones that need the help right in the rehearsal hall, not to embarrass them but to help them know better how to do it the next time,” Murphree said.
In addition to the Fourth of July concert, the band typically performs three concerts around Christmas. Rehearsals for those performances begin in early September. But those are in jeopardy, too, if the band doesn’t have more participation.
“We’ve got to know something within the next two to three weeks,” Murphree said.
For more information on joining the Community Concert Band, call Murphree at 453-0588 or Baxter at 299-1479.
•Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
