Strongsville City Jazz (April 29 & May 23, 2012 concerts added, see below)

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, and Jimmy Dorsey 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.

Strongsville City Jazz at Masonic Temple Auditorium photo courtesy of owner, Don Emery.



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 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 former 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 has toured with singer Al Martino. On June 27, 2011 Jim performed with the Jimm Dorsey Orchestra, featuring the Pied Pipers at Lake Chautauqua, New York. He is the founder and former Musical 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 and was awarded the B-W Alumni Association Merit Award in May, 2011.

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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

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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.

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Upcoming Concerts


2011 - 2012 Concert Season

Sunday, Dec. 11 at the Ehrnfelt Sr. Center at 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 19 at the Ehrnfelt Sr. Center at 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 29 at Strongsville Lutheran Church at 3:00 p.m. Strongsville City Jazz. Benefit concert for youth mission trip.
Sunday, May 20 at the Ehrnfelt Sr. Center at 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 23 (Senior Day) at the Ehrnfelt Sr. Center from 1-2 p.m. Strongsville City Jazz Big Band.

Summer 2012 Concerts

Friday, June 15
Friday, June 29
Sunday, July 1 at the Hudson Bandstand at 6:00 p.m. (Just added)
Friday, July 6
Friday, July 27
Sunday, July 29 at Lakeside at 6:00 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 3 Strongsville City Jazz Big Band
Friday, Aug. 10
Friday, Aug. 17

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Rehearsal Schedule

All rehearsals will be in the Senior Center from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

2012
Jan. 10, 24
Feb. 7, 14, 28
March 6
April 17
May 1, 15, 17

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Board of Directors

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

Bea Hovanec Kathy Lane John McDermott Renee McDermott

Terry Muskoff Betty Rahm Richard Smith Ann Wollett

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Strongsville Community Band Personnel

PICCOLO Carolyn Ermlick, Office Manager Laurie Furtado, Database Administrator FLUTE Carolyn Ermlick, Office Manager Laurie Furtado, Database Administrator Ellen Hansen-Ellis, B-W Con Admin. Asst. Alexandra Craciun, Music Therapy Student Sara Kennedy, Wildlife Research Co-ord. Leslie Meadows, Music Therapist Renee McDermott, Airline Sales Manager Marilyn Zoller, Retired Music Teacher OBOE Sue Keserich, Barberton Music Teacher Joy A. Slonaker, RISC Manager ENGLISH HORN Sue Keserich, Barberton Music Teacher BASSOON Carolyn Hupalowsky, Music Teacher Jim Husak, Retired Alison Whitney, Business Analyst Eb CLARINET Ann Marie Fuhrmann, Music Teacher Bb CLARINET Susan Capuder, CPA Kathy DeBlasi, Music Teacher Beth Dier Gayle Kish, CSU Music Dept. Ann Marie Fuhrmann, Music Teacher Jody Halley Marty Kapinski, Editor Ron Nelson, Database Analyst Joe Rongone, Ins. Claims Supervisor Tom Seese, Retired BASS CLARINET Elaine Kubis, Teacher Trudge, B-W Graduate Student ALTO SAXOPHONE Jamie De Pould, Photographer Dick Millard, Retired Music Teacher TENOR SAXOPHONE Scott Halley, Engineer BARITONE SAXOPHONE Glenn Bernasek, Retired Tech. & USAR

PIANO Lucy Mercer, Retired Music Teacher TRUMPET Suzi Behm, Loss Prevention Mgr. Carolyn Chwalek, Music Therapist Michael Geschke, Retired Peter Hoekje, B-W Physics Professor Ryan Harris, B-W Music Student James Heinrich, Pres-Instrumentors, Inc. Mark Hentosh, Sotware Developer Doug Painting, Business Owner Reinhold Toerek, Engineer James Wonnacott, Retired Music Teacher FRENCH HORN Ingrid Askenbeck, Retired Psychotherapist Nancy Bolterstein, Administrative Assistant Linda Gardner, Church Organist, Ret. Music Teacher James Mercer, Retired Music Teacher Ann Painting, Substitute Teacher Isabel Wright TROMBONE David Betts, Music Teacher Peter Dinin, Database Administrator Dave Hartman, Director of Safety Ryan Heinrich, Computer Programer Mike Leone, Music Teacher Kevin Wenner, Lab Technician EUPHONIUM Chris Donze, Music Publisher Bryan Hrehocik, Music Teacher Bill Kelly, Chemist TUBA Karl Beckman, Engineer Randy Border, B-W Dir. of Athletic Bands Jim Reynolds, Cleve. Orch. Dev. Operations PERCUSSION Clarence Barber, Composer Dan Barcy, CEO SavingMinutes Dr. Rosario Cambria, Interpreter William Currier, Retired Principal Darryl Mika, Computer Programmer Nick Puin, Retired Music Teacher AUDIO TECHNICIAN-ANNOUNCER Jon Marshall, Retired Strongsville Teacher

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Events Calendar

The Strongsville City Jazz - Sunday, April 29 at the Strongsville Lutheran Church at 3:00 p.m. Benefit concert.
The Strongsville City Jazz - Wednesday, May 23 at the Ehrnfelt Senior Center from 1-2 p.m. for Senior Day.
The Community Band will perform at the Hudson Bandstand on Sunday, July 1st from 6-7 p.m.


The band will perform at Lakeside, Ohio on Sunday, July 29, 2012.

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Excerpts from previous performances in mp3 file format. Click on track to play.

From the June 24, 2010 performance at B-W:
Irish Tune and Shepherd's Hey - Percy Grainger
Porgy and Bess Selections - Gershwin, arr. by Robert Russell Bennett
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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

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Band Member Info
Feb. 16 rehearsal has been changed to Feb. 14.
April 29 (Sun) - Strongsville City Jazz at Strongsville Lutheran Church at 3:00 p.m. for a benefit concert.
May 23 (Wed) - Strongsville City Jazz at the Ehrnfelt Senior Center from 1-2 p.m. for Senior Day.


Summer concert schedule is posted.
The band will perform at Lakeside, Ohio on Sunday, July 29, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. Check it out - www.lakesideohio.com


visitors since May 10, 2007