The Greatest Show in Strongsville
Community band features the circus at May 21 concert
Some members of the Strongsville Community Band donned clown-like attire for the May 21 concert dedicated to the circus. Photo by TERRY BRLAS
STRONGSVLLE – The Strongsville Community Band took an overflow crowd at the Ehrnfelt Event Center to the circus at its May 21 spring concert.
The Greatest Show in Strongsville was not only a treat for the ears, but was also feast for the eyes. Unicyclists from the Lakewood Unicycle Club, jump ropers from the Strongsville Elementary Jump Rope Club and juggler from the St. Ignatius Circus Company performed during the concert.
Ironically, the SCB’s circus music concert coincided with the date of the last performance of Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus in New York City.
“It was by accident, divine intervention that it was the actual last day of the circus. I picked this day way back when and picked this theme,” said SCB Director Ken Mehalko.
Many of the band members dressed in circus garb, including master of ceremonies Jon Marshall, who donned a ringmaster outfit.
The May 21 concert took Mehalko back to the days of when he directed the Strongsville High School Marching Mustangs.
“This was almost like a marching band show,” he said. “It was a lot fun, I enjoyed it and we had a great crowd.”
Extra seats had to be brought in for the 300-plus attendees who seemingly enjoyed every minute. The seating arrangement was in a semi-circle, mimicking that of a one-ring circus with the band at the east end.
The concert opened with “Entry of the Gladiators,” as members of the Strongsville Elementary Jump Rope Club entertained. Selections from the movie “Barnum” followed.
“Circus Galop” by famed march king John Philip Sousa featured some juggling. A couple animal themed numbers were next. “The Old Grumbly Bear” featured bassoonists James Husak, Alison Whitney and Marcia Warden. “Cheetah” by Karel Husa is a composition for band that is a musical depiction of the fervent chase of a wild animal that eventually collapses from exhaustion.
The unicyclists made various appearances, including during the playing of the circus march “Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite.”
Two songs about conveyances, “Merry-Go-Round” and “Runaway Circus Train” were played. The former featured each section at various points, representing the constantly changing view from the carousel. The latter began with a waltz that set a circus atmosphere. Soon after, the circus has packed up and the train begins to move to its next destination, but trouble looms in the distance and chaos ensues. The clever effects juxtaposed circus music with impending disaster.
The final number was “The Circus Bee.” It was not about a buzzing insect, but was a celebration of sorts for the fact that Henry Fillmore and his father, who managed their publishing business, finally agreed that the young composer could publish his music “at home even though it did not meet the elder Fillmore’s standard of being religious music. The march is named after an imaginary circus newspaper and reflects Fillmore’s lifelong interest in circuses and his varied experiences while touring with five different big top shows.
The Strongsville Community Band’s next concert is Friday, June 16 at 7:30 p.m. on the Commons, the first of the ensemble’s summer season.
The Greatest Show in Strongsville was not only a treat for the ears, but was also feast for the eyes. Unicyclists from the Lakewood Unicycle Club, jump ropers from the Strongsville Elementary Jump Rope Club and juggler from the St. Ignatius Circus Company performed during the concert.
Ironically, the SCB’s circus music concert coincided with the date of the last performance of Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus in New York City.
“It was by accident, divine intervention that it was the actual last day of the circus. I picked this day way back when and picked this theme,” said SCB Director Ken Mehalko.
Many of the band members dressed in circus garb, including master of ceremonies Jon Marshall, who donned a ringmaster outfit.
The May 21 concert took Mehalko back to the days of when he directed the Strongsville High School Marching Mustangs.
“This was almost like a marching band show,” he said. “It was a lot fun, I enjoyed it and we had a great crowd.”
Extra seats had to be brought in for the 300-plus attendees who seemingly enjoyed every minute. The seating arrangement was in a semi-circle, mimicking that of a one-ring circus with the band at the east end.
The concert opened with “Entry of the Gladiators,” as members of the Strongsville Elementary Jump Rope Club entertained. Selections from the movie “Barnum” followed.
“Circus Galop” by famed march king John Philip Sousa featured some juggling. A couple animal themed numbers were next. “The Old Grumbly Bear” featured bassoonists James Husak, Alison Whitney and Marcia Warden. “Cheetah” by Karel Husa is a composition for band that is a musical depiction of the fervent chase of a wild animal that eventually collapses from exhaustion.
The unicyclists made various appearances, including during the playing of the circus march “Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite.”
Two songs about conveyances, “Merry-Go-Round” and “Runaway Circus Train” were played. The former featured each section at various points, representing the constantly changing view from the carousel. The latter began with a waltz that set a circus atmosphere. Soon after, the circus has packed up and the train begins to move to its next destination, but trouble looms in the distance and chaos ensues. The clever effects juxtaposed circus music with impending disaster.
The final number was “The Circus Bee.” It was not about a buzzing insect, but was a celebration of sorts for the fact that Henry Fillmore and his father, who managed their publishing business, finally agreed that the young composer could publish his music “at home even though it did not meet the elder Fillmore’s standard of being religious music. The march is named after an imaginary circus newspaper and reflects Fillmore’s lifelong interest in circuses and his varied experiences while touring with five different big top shows.
The Strongsville Community Band’s next concert is Friday, June 16 at 7:30 p.m. on the Commons, the first of the ensemble’s summer season.