Familiar faces in Hometown Band

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, June 29, 2005

You never know who’ll turn up in the local ensemble.

Years ago, Katherine Smith received a letter from her father saying:

“Your mother just announced to me that when she retires, she wants to play trumpet.

“Pray for me.”

Katherine kept that letter, and when her mother, islander Joan Smith, retired after 25 years of teaching kindergarten, Katherine surprised her mother with just such an instrument.

Joan now plays trumpet in the Hometown Band.

“They let me sit in the last chair,” Smith said. “If I’d known what I know now about (the challenges of) playing in a band, I’d never have joined.”

But she did join because “I had always wanted to make music in a group, and this was my first opportunity.

The hallmark of the Hometown Band is its diversity and welcoming spirit. The all-volunteer ensemble boasts 30-40 musicians, and accepts all players from “rank beginner” to those with professional experience.

Members come from all over Kitsap – even as far as Belfair or Lummi Island – and from all walks of life, and range from high school age to 80.

On July 4, the band will play a variety of “Americana” tunes and patriotic music by John Phillip Sousa, George M. Cohan and Henry Fillmore from 12-1 p.m. at the Winslow Mall. And just like a hometown band, there will be plenty of familiar faces.

“I think this group epitomizes the small town charm that communities like ours are desperately trying to keep,” said islander Erika Colson, who joined after hearing the band play the Fourth of July two years ago.

Colson plays the euphonium, which looks like a tuba but plays in a higher pitch range.

She had played in school through college, but hadn’t touched the instrument for 10 years between commuting to Issaquah and living in a Seattle apartment where she couldn’t practice.

She had moved to the island and started her own business when she heard the Hometown Band play.

“They were very encouraging and welcoming. They made it really easy (to join). This is also a good way to get to know and serve the community,” Colson said. “This group, more than anything, has helped me feel connected to the community.”

Another familiar face is Sydney Cox, who many know from the window of the Winslow Post Office.

Cox comes to work with his pocket trumpet, a shortened version of the standard instrument.

He played trumpet as a kid, and then picked it up again four years ago after a 20-year break.

Sitting in the same section with as talented a trumpet player as Bob Fellers, Cox said, has pushed him to improve.

Fellers, who also plays in the Bainbridge Orchestra, has been playing trumpet since he was 7 years old. He was part of a symphony for 14 years while working as an audio engineer. He joined the band seven years ago when he moved to Bainbridge after retiring.

“It’s a fun group,” Fellers said. “It’s always a good feeling when the crowd is appreciative of what you’re doing.”

On the island, the band has played for Fourth of July festivities, the Christmas Tree lighting, the Bainbridge Island Farmers Market. Until recently, they used to carol commuters onboard the ferry during the holidays.

Due to heightened security after 9/11, the band was asked to disembark at each end, which band leader Jas Linford said wasn’t a problem. But last year Washington State Ferries started asking the band to pay for their fare, so it was the first time in years the band didn’t carol onboard.

Linford said he’ll approach WSF again this year to see if they will waive the fare, as the performances were enjoyed by commuters and band alike.

“People have come up to me and said how humbug they were” getting on the ferry, Linford said, but upon hearing the band “got into the Christmas spirit.”

Cox does a little personal caroling himself, playing by the Salvation Army ringer outside the post office during the Christmas season. The Salvation Army ringer told Cox that the occasional carol does help as people who might not otherwise come, hear the trumpet and do.

Why take the mini-trumpet to work at the post office?

“Because I need the practice,” Cox said.

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Hear ’em

The Hometown Band plays 12-1 p.m. July 4 at the Winslow Mall. The band is nonprofit and plays for free. To book them for an event or to join, see www.hometownband.org or call 842-2084.