They have performed for parades, outdoor park events and concerts at various Oxford-area venues including the Oxford Community Arts Center. All of this has been done without any formal community sponsorship.
The band has kept expenses low with volunteer directors and using a dated music library, but they have announced an annual fund-raising effort aimed at improving their offerings in an effort to reach a larger audience.
“We need a budget. We’ve never had a budget. Insurance for the (use of) the school is a couple hundred dollars a year,” said Peg Sander, a member of the band’s board and leading the effort to create a fund drive. “The director gets a couple gifts but nothing else. We depend on the music we have had for 30 years.”
The funds would also assist in supporting the web page and paying a small stipend to the director.
The director is Bob Eckhardt, a member of the Oxford Community Band for seven years and director since January of 2010. He grew up in Jacksonburg, Ohio, attended Edgewood City Schools graduating in 2004 and went to Morehead State University in Kentucky to pursue his Bachelors of Music Education degree. He graduated magna cum laude and returned to pursue his teaching career.
Aside from the Oxford Community Band, Eckhardt is also a member of the Ohio Military Band and Southwest Ohio Symphonic Band.
Letters over the name of Gregg Wentzell, president of the Oxford Community Band, are going out to businesses and organizations in the area seeking donations for the fund drive, suggesting Gold Level donations of $200, silver level at $100 and Bronze level at $50.
“In appreciation of your donation at any of these levels, we will gladly list your business or organization’s name on our concert programs as a sponsor,” Wentzell writes. “In addition to your contribution, we would love to have your support at our concerts. We are eager to promote our concerts and events through community calendars and the Enjoy Oxford communications.”
Sander stressed the goal is simple, not extravagant. She said they hope to improve what the band can give the community.
“The idea is just to remain solvent and increase our visibility. We want attention to our concerts,” she said. “The band is still vibrant, with people from Miami, people from Talawanda, even Brookville. We’ve got people on the band when it started. We’ve got some new.”
The band’s next concert will be at the Senior Center at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 5.
In his letter seeking support for the band, Wentzell said the band is made up of people just wishing to share their love of music.
“The Oxford Community Band is a group of individuals from Southwest Ohio that share a passion for music. From music teachers to accountants, and high school students to more “experienced” individuals, the OCB has a wide variety of demographics,” he wrote. “We pride ourselves on not holding auditions and producing great music with few rehearsals. With up to seven performances each year, the community band performs music at a high school class B level.
Information about the band can be found on their web site oxfordcommunityband.com.
Checks can be made out to “Oxford Community Band” and sent to Fred Schuurman, treasurer Oxford Community Band, 716 David Drive, Oxford, OH 45056.
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