Shippensburg Band

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Provide entertainment for the community.
Provide a musical community for people of all ages to continue to play their instruments.
Encourage members to continue to grow in their musicianship.
Provide a nurturing environment for young band players

Christmas Concert
Seasonal music
with a variety of styles and music!

Sunday December 7, 2008
3 pm
St Paul United Methodist Church‎, 750 Norland Ave, Chambersburg, PA 17201

Our History

(NEW: Read a historical article published in Public Opinion, 1970)

In the winter of 1922, sixteen men held a meeting for the purpose of organizing a community band. It was the beginning of the Shippensburg Band as we know it today. It was not the first band to be organized in Shippensburg. An 1871 reference has been found relating to the Shippensburg Concert Band which had successor bands known as the Walter Snodgrass Cornet Band and the Edward Shippen Military Band.

Salvadore Collangelo, the band's first director, organized the Shippensburg Band back in 1922. Shortly afterwards, Clarence Smith of Carlisle took over as director of the band and continued in that capacity until 1935. In addition to his duties as director, Mr. Smith instituted a beginning class of musicians in order to build the band's membership.

Professor Ralph Schecter, who taught English and Music at Dickinson College, served as director of the band from 1936 until 1961. He was followed by Kenneth Slater, a former cornet soloist with the United States Marine Band and the United States Army Field Band, who served as director from 1962 to 1966 when the director's staff was handed over to Donald Bollinger.

Mr. Bollinger served as the band director until his retirement in 1986, when he was followed by Victor Coble. Donald Bollinger returned as guest conductor for the fall concert in 1992, and as full-time conductor in 1993 until his second retirement in 2004. Our present director is Carl Sponenberg, former director of Middle Spring High School.

Since its inception, the Band has marched in the Memorial Day Parade and other parades in addition to performing at other local and regional events.

Each year, the Band presents its Spring Concert in March or April and a Fall Concert in November, drawing a responsive audience from the community.
Fans can watch the band perform at more than 25 events each year which may include:

Links:

Concerts in the Park (Gettysburg, Chambersburg, Shippensburg, surrounding communities)
Civil War Re-enactment Concert
Memorial Day Service at Middle Spring Presbyterian Church
Summer reading program kick-off at Shippensburg Library
Independence Day Ceremonies
Shippensburg Fair Vespers Services
Shippensburg Corn Festival
Many nursing homes and health care facilities throughout the area.

Download:

The Shippensburg Band has gathered many individuals from the Shippensburg, PA and surrounding communities to make music and share it with others. It is a dynamic group of young and old from all walks of life. The band has survived over the years because of good leadership, the dedication of its members, and excellent community support. We continue to return to the community our quality entertainment enjoyed by people of all ages.

Contact:

Shippensburg Band
PO Box 222
Shippensburg, PA 17257

Join our Band
Band rehearsals are year-round on Tuesday at 8:00 PM in the Shippensburg Area Senior High band room.

We are always looking for new members, so if you are looking for a group to join, please stop by. All interested musicians are welcome!