Strongsville City Jazz

The Strongsville City jazz is one of the most versatile dance bands in the Cleveland area, playing everything from jazz classics to swing music from the big band era. The fine musicians who make up the band bring a variety of musical experience to their performances that include entertaining at Playhouse Square, The Front Row Theater, Kenley Players, and The Coliseum. Some members of the band have performed with some well-known ensembles, including The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Warren Covington, Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson big bands and The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra. The band performs during the summer as part of the Strongsville Community Band Summer Concerts and in other area communities. During the winter the band has been featured at a number of Cleveland area high school jazz festivals and on occasion has played for some dances.

Vocalist Kim Wasielewski complements the band with her refreshing vocal renditions of many pop favorites. Kim, a dance instructor and yoga teacher, has been singing with the band for a number of years.

The Strongsville City Jazz is co-directed by Ken Mehalko and James Wonnacott. Ken founded the band in 1992. He holds degrees in music from Baldwin-Wallace College and Case-Western Reserve University. He is retired from the Strongsville City Schools where he successfully directed the high school band for 29 years. Presently he directs the Strongsville Community Band, and is the Director of Athletic Bands at Baldwin Wallace College.

James Wonnacott is also a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College. He retired from the Strongsville City Schools in 1996 where he had success teaching at Center Junior High School. As a freelance musician and arranger he has performed for many prominent bands and entertainers, including The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and most recently toured with singer Al Martino. He is founder and director of the Baldwin-Wallace College Alumni Jazz Orchestra. Jim received the 2009 B-W Conservatory Alumni Achievement Award in recognition of his accomplishments as a performer and educator in the Cleveland area and his dedication to the Alumni Jazz Orchestra.

---

Support the Band - become a patron

The 18th season of the Strongsville Community Band will open with a concert on the Commons on Friday, June 8th. Join your neighbors and Strongsville businesses by supporting the Band with a tax-deductible donation. In addition to this tax incentive, your name will appear in the band programs which are distributed at each summer concert.

Give a gift to your community and yourself by joining one of our “ensembles” this year. The donation levels are:

$25-$49 Woodwind Ensemble
$50-$99 Brass Ensemble
$100-$299 Percussion Ensemble
$300-$499 Jazz Ensemble
$500+ Director’s Circle

Checks may be sent to:
Karen Muskoff, Treasurer
20771 Oak Trail Court
Strongsville, OH 44136

---

History of the Band

The Strongsville Community Band was founded in 1990 by director Ken Mehalko. The band received its initial financial support from the Strongsville Women’s League. It now has a board of directors who set policies and raise and manage monies to support the band’s activities. The City of Strongsville provides the performance and rehearsal areas.

The Strongsville Community Band performs six outdoor concerts during the summer months on the Strongsville Commons. Also scheduled in the Cultural Center of the Ehrnfelt Recreation and Senior Center are a Christmas Concert, a Winter Concert and a Spring Concert.

Outstanding musicians from all walks of life, including students, professionals and retirees join together in this community band because of their love for making music. The ensemble programs a variety of musical styles including marches, light classics and “pop” selections and other contemporary literature from the concert band repertoire. The band has also performed at other communities in the area including The Lorain Palace Theater with the Patriots Concert Band and at Lakeland Community College with the Lakeland Civic Band and two performances at Severance Hall, the home of The Cleveland Orchestra. Loras John Schissel, Dr. Frederick Fennell, Dr. Howard Meeker and Dr. Gary Ciepluch are but a few of the guest directors who have conducted the band in concert.

---

Upcoming Concerts

2009 Summer Concerts

Friday, June 12, 19,
July 3, 10, 31
August 14

Sunday July 5th (Masonic Auditorium in Cleveland) has been added. 2:00 concert.

---

Rehearsal Schedule

2009 Summer rehearsals are Mondays and Wednesdays in the Ehrnfelt Senior Center from 7:00 to 9:00 PM.

June 8, 10, 15, 17, 29
July 1, 6, 8, 27, 29
August 3, 5,10, 12

---

Board of Directors

Ken Mehalko, Director Ellen Dublo, President Karen Muskoff, Treasurer Sandy Dublo Linda Dettmer

Bea Hovanec Kathy Lane John McDermott Renee McDermott

Betty Rahm Richard Smith Jay Tranor Ann Wollett

---

Strongsville Community Band Personnel

PICCOLO Carolyn Ermlick, Office Manager Laurie Furtado, Database Administrator FLUTE Marianne Canario, Corporate Trainer Carolyn Ermlick, Office Manager Laurie Furtado, Database Administrator Kate Creagen, Music Teacher Renee McDermott, Airline Sales Manager Marilyn Zoller, Retired Music Teacher OBOE Joy A. Slonaker, RISC Manager Janet Williams, Parma Music teacher BASSOON Alison Whitney, Business Analyst Eb CLARINET Ann Marie Fuhrmann, Music Teacher Bb CLARINET Susan Capuder, CPA Beth Dier Ann Marie Fuhrmann, Music Teacher Marty Kapinski, Editor Ron Nelson, Database Analyst Joe Rongone, Ins. Claims Supervisor Tom Seese, Safety Director Mike Sherwood, CPA,CFE Sarah Slavik, Computer Programer BASS CLARINET Carol Lecian, Legal Secretary, (Band Librarian) ALTO SAXOPHONE Dick Millard, Retired Music Teacher Jack Thetgyi, Support Officer TENOR SAXOPHONE Scott Halley, Engineer BARITONE SAXOPHONE Glenn Bernasek, Retired Tech.&USAR

TRUMPET Suzi Behm, Loss Prevention Mgr. Nelson Canario, College of Wooster Grad James Heinrich, V.P-Instrumentors, Inc. Mark Hentosh, Sotware Developer Maurice Jefferson, Process Engineer Reinhold Toerek, Engineer Dr. Gino Ventresca, Oral Surgeon James Wonnacott, Retired Music Teacher Chuck Zenkert, Retired FRENCH HORN Ingrid Askenbeck, Retired Psychotherapist Nancy Bolterstein, Administrative Assistant Linda Gardner, Church organist Melinda Kellerstrass, Music Teacher James Mercer, Retired Music Teacher Ann Painting, Substitute Teacher Isabel Wright, Technical Sales Mgr. TROMBONE Peter Dinin, Databaase Administrator Dave Hartman, Director of Safety Del Hartman, Retired Ryan Heinrich, Computer Programer Kevin Wenner, Lab Technician EUPHONIUM John Fisher, Database Administrator Bill Kelly, Chemist TUBA Randy Border, Retired Music Teacher Karl Beckman, Engineer PERCUSSION Dr. Rosario Cambria, Interpreter William Currier, Retired Principal Daniel Kelley, Telecom Planning Analyst Darryl Mika, Computer Programmer AUDIOTECHNICIANANNOUNCER JonMarshall, Retired Strongsville Teacher

---

Events Calendar - The band will perform Sunday, July 5th at Masonic Auditorium in Cleveland at 2:00.

---

Excerpts from previous performances in mp3 file format. Click on track to play.
Italian in Algiers - G. Rossini, arr. by Calliet
Scottish Dances, 1st movement - Malcom Arnold, arr. by Paynter
Scottish Dances, 2nd movement - Malcom Arnold, arr. by Paynter
Caribbean Hideaway - James Barnes. David Kay, saxophone solo; James Wonnacott, trumpet solo.
Wedding Dance - Jacques Press

---

Band Member Info


Sunday, July 5th at Masonic Temple in Cleveland. Rehearsal at 10:00 am, concert at 2:00.

visitors since May 10, 2007