While the rest of us are enjoying the newfound spring air, The Loudon County Concert Band is hard at work.
Retirees and teenagers alike are dusting off their instruments for their Spring Concert on Friday, March 28, at the Community Church in Tellico Village. Though there’s enjoyment to be found, and maybe even a desire to ditch practice and bask in the sun, conductor David Whipple Jr. promises that the diverse crew takes their time and preparation very seriously in moments like these.
“It would be easy for me to just choose easy music,” Whipple said. “But I wanted the band to really grow and to be more than that. So I raised the bar on them as far as the level of music that we played, and they are up to the challenge.”
The concert, aptly titled “Timeless,” will display arrangements and pieces from throughout history that continue to be staples of any music fan’s record collection or playlist. Led by Whipple, the band boasts an eclectic repertoire. From Bach and Tchaikovsky, from the “Ben Hur” soundtrack all the way up to Gabriel’s Oboe from the 1986 Academy Award Winner, “The Mission,” — there’s a tune for every age group on this setlist.
Between switching seamlessly from military band pieces to grandiose renditions of Mason Williams tracks, there’s a lot to love about what Whipple has curated for his players with this go-around. The group, originally founded by The Tellico Villagers, has since extended the invitation to join to residents regardless of age or residence. The talent ranges anywhere 18 to 85, which Whipple said can create a fun and inviting dynamic.
“The older group just embraces the younger kids, and just encourages them right along,” Whipple said. “And to be perfectly honest, a lot of these high school kids can play circles around a lot of people. We’re just all a part of this together.”
The group is all volunteers: around 50 current and retired musicians that welcome anyone from the high school level upward to participate. Currently, they have participants in Loudon, Roane and Blount, as well as a number of different surrounding counties.
When the band first got its legs, they had about 20 members playing regularly at performances. That number has now doubled in the years since. This is partially due to the fact that one member out of Lenoir City High School incentivized a whole litter of students to look into it.
“I remember we had a concert here at the Community Church, and following the concert I was down here talking with people,” Whipple said. “And suddenly I found myself surrounded by high school kids. And they’re all saying, ‘What can I do?’ or ‘How can I come and be a part of this?’”
The group also has some career musicians, as well. One percussionist is a member of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, as well as employing Caitlin Jones from Lee University as a percussion soloist.
“That’s going to be really exciting to have her and to feature her,” Whipple said.
Whipple, a former minister, seems to fit right in as he waves that wand and keeps the band in time. He said he’s always looking to help members realize their true potential. For a group that ranges from playing every day to brushing dust off an instrument that hasn’t been played since junior high, that creates a fun challenge for the conductor.
“I want to encourage people to use their gifts,” Whipple said. “And I think that carries over for me here in the band to provide an opportunity for them to do that.”
Tickets for the show are $12 in advance, or $15 at the door. You can go to www.loudonconcertband.org and click on the “Events” tab if you’d like to purchase a ticket ahead of time at no additional cost. They also have a Memorial Day Concert slated for Monday, May 26.
