By Nancy Bowman
For the Tippecanoe Community Band, a grant from the Tipp City Foundation sounded just right.
The $5,083 award covered the purchase of 15 musician chairs, four chair carts to store the chairs, six music stands and a music stand storage cart.
This equipment was needed by the band as it enters its 45th year, said Gail Ahmed, band director.
“The band has continued to grow over the past few years, from 50 to 60-plus members. We had chairs for only 50 members and stands for 60 members. For safety reasons, it was important to have carts that were specifically made for the chairs as the chairs and stands are moved for each rehearsal and performance,” Ahmed said.
Today, approximately 65 members make music with the group. They range from age 18 to more than 90 years and come from a number of area communities including Tipp City, Covington, Dayton, Fletcher, Huber Heights, Kettering, New Carlisle, Piqua, Troy, Union, Vandalia and West Milton.
Ahmed has been with the band since its beginning in 1980. She said Sandy Whitaker spoke with her about starting a band under the umbrella of Tipp Monroe Community Services.
“I was the high school band director at the time and thought that it would be a great place for people to continue playing their instruments after high school,” she said. “The band had their first meeting in January of 1980 with eight members present and performed its first concert in May. We were so appreciative of the Tipp City Schools’ support over the years as they provided us with a rehearsal space from 1980-2020.”
The Tippecanoe Community Band gives musicians a place to share their love of music with fellow musicians and audiences. “We are like a big ‘Musical Family.’ It has been such a joy to meet so many musicians over the years and to have the opportunity to give the gift of music to the community,” Ahmed said.
The band already has scheduled some concerts for this year including:
Sunday, May 4 Tipp Center, 3 p.m.
Friday, June 6 Downtown Tipp City, 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 20 Tipp Center, 3 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 14 Tipp Center, 3 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 27 Mum Festival, noon
Sunday, Dec. 7 Tipp Center, 7 p.m.
During the band’s anniversary year, it looks forward to performing music from its early concerts as well as new selections, Ahmed said.
“It has been such an honor to be a part of this family of musicians and to continue the traditions that were started by a small group of players with a vision of having a community band,” she said.