June 18, 2010 - Deerfield Field Days

Our Concert in the Whitesboro Village Green this past Wednesday had been cancelled due to torrential rain - but we were back to perform under ideal conditions on Friday for Deerfield's Firemen Field Day Parade.
As the Red Band stepped off at 7:00 to lead the parade - the crowds were noticeably sparse during the first half - but made up for it the last half of the parade right until we entered the grounds amid the roar of the crowd - the rides - the aroma of the food stand - "Summer Has Begun"!

We lined up in front of the stage and continued to play as each color guard unit led their Fire Department proudly and invigorated in step with our music.

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!

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Deerfield Parade

June 12-13, 2010 - St. Anthony Church Festival - Utica, NY

As we were setting up for the Saturday night concert to honor St. Anthony - we were presented with a 3rd Place Trophy we had won in the Dolgeville Violet Parade earlier that day!! By nightfall the rain was a steady downpour and the crowd was all huddled under the tent to enjoy our Italian music.

At one of the tables was our newest fan, Miss Lena Elizabeth Galime, who came to hear Daddy Michael and Aunt Julia in our Saxophone section and Grandpa Al on 1st Trumpet - who gave a superb solo on "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes



Pat Santacroce once again introduced "The Beer Barrel Polka" with his story of Rosamunda - and if you listen carefully to the singing section we've changed the lyrics just enough to honor her.

Although the sky was threatening to rain again on Sunday morning - St. Anthony pulled it off again. When His Statue comes out of the Church to process through the streets of East Utica - it does not rain.

The Parishioners, ladies with the large basket of St. Anthony's bread, an escort of 3 Knights of St. John, and the Statue of St. Anthony followed by The Red Band proceeded up St. Anthony Street.


Once there we stopped at the corner of Mary Street to play "Marche Reale" for the Tocco Family. They place 2 empty chairs to represent the departed Frank and his wife. They were followers of St. Anthony, and Frank was a long-time cherished member of the Red Band Family.
We also played "Marche Reale" in front of the homes that display pictures or a Statue of St. Anthony.

This tradition - a vital part of the Procession - has been going on for decades. Come to think of it - for over 100 Years!

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!

Please click on link below for photos of the Concert and Procession

St. Anthony's Church Festival

June 12, 2010 - Dolgeville Violet Festival

It was pouring rain as we gathered on Wolf St. in Dolgeville before the start of the parade. We found shelter under a RV awning and on a nearby porch.

The rain stopped as soon as we lined up and the Violet Parade began.

The rain did not deter the cheerful spectators - many of them sporting purple attire. We also noted the large number of houses decked out with purple bunting. Even the Red Band joined in. Our director, Arlene, hung little baskets of violets from the side mirrors of the car and draped purple and white daisies along the spoiler on the trunk.




"Dolgeville's Own - Lenore Gabriel" was again hailed as we passed the reviewing stand and after the parade she had us over for refreshments (including Dan Falatico's famous sausage and peppers) before our long trip home.


We found out later that day that we had won a 3rd place trophy!

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!

Please click link below for Photos of the

Dolgeville Violet Festival Parade

Violet Parade

June 7, 2010 - Utica Monday Night Concert

La Banda Rossa played a concert to open the 2010 Utica Monday Night Heritage Celebration at Chancellor Park. Every Monday will spotlight a different Ethnic group and opening night featured Italian music and food.

It was a beautiful evening and a large crowd turned out with sweaters, jackets, sunglasses and lawn chairs.

Danielle's and Cafe CaNole supplied sausage and peppers, and Italian pastries. The aroma wafted over the Bandstand with the audience singing as we played all their favorite Italian songs introduced by our very own interlocutor, Pasquale Giuseppe Santacroce.

We were joined this evening by trumpeter Dorian Mohar - back from his cruise ship gig (Welcome Home), and joining us on bass drum was Red Band veteran, Frank LaPuma.

Barb Seaton is now playing a very special instrument at Red Band concerts - look for her new RED flute and piccolo!

The concert closed with a salute to our director Arlene and her husband Pierre celebrating their 48th wedding anniversary and then everyone sang "Happy Birthday" in honor of baritone player, Donna DeRosa.

Italian Night in East Utica is all about

MUSIC, FOOD, FAMILY, and FRIENDS.

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!

Please click on link below for photos of Utica Monday Night.
Italian Night at Heritage Park

May 31, 2010 - Memorial Day Parades

Summer has arrived early this year. The flowers of mid-June are already in full bloom and it feels like the heat of July is here in full force.

Surprisingly, the crowd of spectators seemed more sparse than last year in the Whitesboro and Utica Parades. Perhaps they were off enjoying picnics with family and friends.

However - they were all back home in time for the evening parade in New Hartford.

In all 3 parades we were greeted with smiles-flags-applause and many shouts of "Thank You" as the people acknowledged our Country's Servicemen as we played the songs of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard as well as God Bless America.

Although it was a "scorcher" - the warm reception of the crowds and the deep meaning of Memorial Day made for three spirited parades.

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!

Photos from Whitesboro and New Hartford Parade

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Memorial Day Parades

March 19, 2010 - St. Joseph Day Concert Utica, NY

It only takes 2 days to switch from the "Wearin' O' the Green" to "Sportin' the Red" to honor St. Joseph - and this year, The Red Band participated in the celebration by performing on the great stage of the Stanley Theatre.

Cafe CaNole hosted their annual St. Joseph Day Feast - setting up a buffet line along one side of the stage and a pastry shop in display cases on the other side, featuring the special St. Joseph Day pastries - sfinge and zeppole. St. Joseph is the Patron Saint of Pastry Chefs. We were setup at the rear of the stage to provide music while everyone dined.

All across the stage were enough banquet tables to accommodate hundreds of people - and hundreds arrived. As we played most of our Italian repertoire, our audience, dressed primarily in red, started arriving in a steady stream.

During our 2nd half of the concert - the staff started setting up more tables and carrying more chairs across the stage as the buffet line got longer and longer, stretching from one side of the stage across the front to the other side.

The tradition of the St. Joseph Day table started in the Middle Ages when the people of Sicily prayed to their Patron Saint, St. Joseph, to bring them rain during a severe drought to prevent a famine. They promised if he answered their prayers they would prepare a large feast to honor him.

The rain came and the tradition of the feast continues.

What a wonderful turn-out to share the Italian Heritage at this St. Joseph's Table on his Feast Day.

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!

Please click on the link below for photos
St. Joseph Day Concert

March 13, 2010 - St. Patrick's Day Parade Utica,NY

The Red Band opened it's 105th season at the Utica St. Patrick's Day Parade marching down Genesee St. on a cold, blustery, overcast morning. The parade began at 10:00am but we didn't step off until 11:00am. the wind was blowing at 23mph with gusts of 45mph and we marched right into the teeth of it.

From the beginning of the march at Oneida Square and Munson-Williams Art Institute there was a good-sized crowd all in various shades of green, waving flags, applauding, and cheering

Although the crowd wasn't as large as in other years, there was a steady line of spectators all the way to the end. They were dressed in winter coats and quite a few were wrapped in blankets. Lots of little ones were displaying happy smiles with shivering teeth.

In keeping with the theme of St. Patrick's Day we decided to play only two selections - MacNamara's Band" and "When The Saints Go Marching In".

The wind fought us the entire time - blowing off decorations, flipping pages of music, even blowing books right off the holders. But it was the hats that caused havoc - from the front line clarinetist Lenore Gabriel to the back row trombonist Greg Brockway - hats were flying everywhere.

Trumpeter Al Galime's hat blew off and started rolling right up Genesee Street past the Red Band Car that was following the group. When he finally retrieved it he got a friendly, warm ovation from the crowd.

After we passed the reviewing stand, the open space at each intersection created such a crosswind it was just about impossible to play and we finally concluded with the "Marche Reale" at the end of the paraded once we were standing out of the wind behind the old HSBC building.

Clarinetist Linda DeAmicis wasn't able to march and hold a clarinet because of recent shoulder surgery, but she and her husband Jan came to the parade to support the band and take a few pictures thus supplying me with more photos than I'm usually able to take. Thanks Linda.

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!

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St. Patrick's Day Parade

November 8, 2009 - Whitesboro Veteran's Day Parade

Whitesboro celebrated Veteran's Day with a parade held on Sunday, November 8th.

They could not have picked a nicer day - it was sunny, clear and so warm that we performed our last parade in short sleeves - no jackets necessary on this beautiful November afternoon.

We followed the Oneida County Voutures 92 Truck with it's cannon booming down Main Street as we played all the Military Marches for the Patriotic Flag waving crowd.



We marched onto the Village Green staying in formation as we lined up by the Gazebo.
We all joined in as a young Cub Scout stood on a chair to lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance -then Professeressa Arlene Iagnocco conducted La Banda Rossa playing the Star-Spangled Banner - a fitting song for our final number of the 2009 Red Band Season

VIVA LA BANDA ROSSA!!
Please click on the link below for photos
Veteran's Day Parade