BACB News
BACB Members Play in the 2024 Md All-State Community Band
August 2024 -- Eight members of the Bel Air Community Band (BACB) performed with the 2024 Maryland All-State Community Band. The band is an auditioned group composed of members of community-bands across Maryland.
BACB members that auditioned and were accepted into the 2024 all-state community band included:
- Jamie Kim, Clarinet
- Matthew Messick, Trumpet
- Jeff Morris, Trumbone
- Joseph Nalley, Alto Sax
- Amy Nines, Flute
- William Stephens, Trumpet
- John Wilhelm, French Hon
- Frank Wilsey, Tuba
The band was directed by Dr. Harlan Parker, the conductor of the Peabody Wind Ensemble and Coordinator of the Music Education Division at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University.
The rehearsals took place over a weekend in Columbia, Md ending in a concert Sunday afternoon. Music performed included Celebration Overture (Op. 61) by Paul Creston, Fantasy Variations by Paganini (arranged by James Barnes) and Symphony in B-Flat by Hindemith.
A full recording of the concert is available on YouTube.
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BACB Hosts Community Band Day
The Bel Air Community Band, and Bel Air Recreation Committee, were excited to host Maryland Community Band Day on June 9, 2024. Maryland Community Band Day is an annual event that brings together community bands from all over the state of Maryland for a day of performances.
“Band Day was started by the Baltimore Symphonic Band and the Southern Maryland Community Band,” said Cindy Suchanek, president and concert master of the Baltimore Symphonic Band. “Each year, the festival moves to a different community, and the venues over the years have included Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and Annapolis.”*
The day included music and entertainment from 1 to 8pm from seven community bands from around the state including:
- Baltimore Symphonic Band
- Olney Concert Band
- Montgomery Village Band
- Rockville Concert Band
- Willamsport Community Band
- Columbia Concert Band
- Bel Air Community Band (BACB)
BACB concluded the program with their annual summer concert at 7pm.
*Attributed to Baltimore Symphonic Band
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BACB Welcomes Special Guest to Summer Concert
June 2024 -- BACB was pleased to welcome Emily Wolf, the 2024 recipient of the William A. Humbert Memorial Scholarship, as a guest to our 2024 Summer Concert.
Emily is a graduate of Havre de Grace High School where she was a member of the school band under the direction of our director, Richard Hauf. Emily graduated in spring 2024 from the University of Maryland College Park where she was a double major in Music Education and Saxophone Performance. She is now working toward her Masters degree at the University of Maryland.
During our summer concert, Emily gave an amazing performance of Fantasia for Alto Saxophone by Claude T. Smith, accompanied by BACB.
The William A. Humbert Memorial Scholarship is offered to a graduate of a Harford County high school who is currently a college junior or college senior majoring in music or music education, or is in a graduate program. The scholarship is named in memory of William “Bill” Humbert, a charter member of the Bel Air Community Band and a founder of the Bel Air Summer Concert Series.
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BACB Members Play in the 2023 Md All-State Community Band
August 2023 -- Five members of the Bel Air Community Band (BACB) auditioned for, and were accepted into, the 2023 Maryland All-State Community Band. The group was directed by Dr. Harlan Parker, the conductor of the Peabody Wind Ensemble and Coordinator of the Music Education Division at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University. Band members participated from 19 Maryland community bands
The rehearsals took place over a weekend in Columbia, Md ending in a concert Sunday afternoon. Music performed included Blue Shades, Molly on the Shore, The Sussex Mummer’s Christmas Carol, Country Gardens and James Barnes Third Symphony, Opus 89.
BACB members that auditioned and were accepted into the 2023 all-state community band included:
- Joseph Nalley - Alto Sax
- Amanda McCausland - Clarinet
- Phyllis Fowler - Flute and Alto Flute
- Frank Wilsey - Tuba
- William Stephens - Trumpet
A full recording of the concert is available on YouTube.
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BACB Welcomes New Director
September 2022 -- The Bel Air Community Band (BACB) and Bel Air Jazz Ensemble welcomes new band director, Richard Hauf, replacing retiring director Scott Sharnetzka.
Richard Hauf recently retired as the director of instrumental music at Havre de Grace High School (HHS) after 29 years where he conducted the Symphonic, Concert, and 9th Grade Band, Jazz Ensemble, Orchestra, Warrior Pride Marching Band and Percussion Ensemble.
Richard received his bachelor’s degree from Towson University and his Master’s in Music Education from Peabody Conservatory, where he studied conducting with Dr. Harlan Parker.
Visit the BACB Directors page for a more complete bio.
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BACB selected to perform at the Association of Concert Bands Convention
April 2016 -- The Be
l Air Community Band auditioned for and was selected to perform at the Association of Concert Bands National Convention on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at the Soldiers and Sailors Hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The mission of the Association of Concert Bands (ACB) is to foster excellence in Concert Band music through performance, education, and advocacy. Members include concert community bands, band directors, individual members, and Corporate members.
ACB holds a yearly convention in a different location each year which is hosted by a member band. It’s a 4-day conference for for band directors, members and managers, as well as music history leaders, administrators, and board members, meet to exchange personal views and share experiences. The week includes educational seminars and clinics and performances by selected community bands.
Approximately 85 band members of the Bel Air Community Band participated in the event.
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BACB Director inducted into Hall of Fame
January 2012 -- Congratulations to Bel Air Community Band Music Director Scott Sharnetzka for being inducted into the Maryland Music Educators Association's Hall of Fame.
This award recognizes individuals for excellence in teaching and/or administration, contributions and improvements made in music education, betterment of the profession through exemplary service or acts, professional offices.
Mr. Sharnetzka spent 30 years in the school system teaching at Harford County Public Schools from 1973 to his retirement in 2003. In 1996 he became director of the Bel Air Community Band (BACB) and Bel Air Jazz Ensemble from 1996. He retired as BACB director in 2022.
The BACB members know first hand that this honor is well deserved!