Bement Community Band History has a long distinguished history
Plans are in the works at this time to continue a local tradition that has brought many hours of enjoyment to the community. The Bement Community Band has a long, illustrious history, dating all the way back to the late 1800s and will perform again this summer. Volunteer musicians come from all walks of life, from college music students to attorneys to retired business persons. Band members are all ages, from middle schoolers to retired people. A number of neighboring communities are represented, such as, Atwood, Arthur, Bement Cerro Gordo, Champaign-Urbana, Deland, Charleston and Monticello. Some of the current band members have played for over 25 years. Everyone is welcomed –if you have an instrument, love music, and love having a good time. The first practice of 2010 will be held in the latter part of May with the first performance of the year at the Old Glory Day Festival on June 12th at 12:00 noon in the Veterans Memorial Park on Highway 105.
As far back as 1890s, there is recorded history of the group. At that time, the band was made mostly of local businessmen. Mr. Roy “Casey” Jones organized and directed the band for a number of years. Mr. Jones also directed the Decatur Band as well as the Springfield Band. At that time, the band had somewhere around 30 pieces and performed in the old bandstand in the city park.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Miss Nellie Alvord directed a town orchestra; they performed in the old town hall and later on in the high school gymnasium for concerts. Unfortunately, history of the community bands and directors is pretty sketchy after that. Fast forward into the 1970s; Dan Dietrich, who was the high school band director during that time, also directed the community band; his instrument of choice was trombone. In 1977, Bob Wisher is noted as the director; he played drums for the Bement Community Band as well as the Parkland Band.
In July 1981, Mr. David Bottom, then acting Superintendent of Schools hired Mark York to direct the high school band. Mr. Bottom, who had previously been the Mowequa High School band director, worked with Mr. York to revive the old Bement community band yet again. Since that time, the band has been directed by more school band directors: Michelle Gross, Bement High School; Doug Kepley, Bement High School; Barb Ozier, Cerrro Gordo High School and Larry Stoner, Monticello High School (retired). Last summer, (2009) Bryan Reynolds, a 2010 University of Illinois took on the directorship and has indicated his willingness to come back again this summer.
Some of the older members of the community will chuckle, maybe, at the memory of ‘the birds.’ During Mr. York’s tenure, concerts had to be concluded before dark because large flocks of birds would descend on the city park to settle in for the night. Because there were so many birds and because they were so loud, the band could hardly be heard, not to mention the fact that umbrellas were needed to protect the concert-goers from the ‘deposits’ from above.
In 1984, the Community Council went to work to gather funds for a new band shell. Revenue-sharing money provided by the village, volunteer labor and donated materials from local businesses netted the village a new band shell that was dedicated on September 22, 1985.
There is just something magical about sitting in the beautiful Veterans Memorial Park, eyes closed, listening to the beautiful sounds of people making music together. The Bement Community Band will be doing that once again, keeping the tradition alive. All that is needed now is the appreciative listeners. The public is invited to come to the performances that are usually held at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday evenings; bring a lawn chair for seating. In case of inclement weather, performances will be held in the Bement United Methodist Church. In addition to the patriotic concert on June 12th, the band will also perform in the annual Bement July 4th parade with a concert following in the evening at the city park’s band shell. There will be several Sunday evening performances as well.
Any and all musicians are invited to be part of the Community Band. Practices are held on Monday evenings in the basement of the Bement United Methodist Church.For more information, please call Irene Hooker, band co-coordinator and information officer at 217-678-2801 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
 BEMENT Illinois, CIRCA 1908 | [You can Purchase this postcard at www.MoodysPostcards.com] | 60 Kb |
 Bement Band 2009 | [Bement Band 2009] | 80 Kb |