From soul, blues and classical to Beatles, modern rock and pop, the Cherry Monsters serve up eclectic style sure to please everyone.
The 40-member Encore Summer Band, self-named this year the Cherry Monsters in a nod to some tunes in their repertoire, is winding up their 11-week season.
Featuring band, rock and orchestra musicians in grades 5 through 12 plus a handful of adult mentors, the band's fifth year has an ambitious three-concert season, up from just one in previous years. Their first concert was held outdoors at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center earlier this month and the next two will be evening concerts at the Lars Hockstad Auditorium (see Page 3).
A new ensemble with the Encore Society of Music, founder and bandleader Jeremy Treadwell is thrilled with the partnership. Also a board member with the Traverse City Music Boosters organization, Treadwell sees the joint effort as a win-win for everyone: students in the band, Music Boosters, the society and the community.
"Next year we'll really be able to take advantage of the grant cycle so the idea is to turn this into a full-fledged music camp in Traverse City,” said Treadwell, whose assistant bandleader this summer is Nancy Landfair. "I would love to see 100 kids in this program, both orchestra and band kids.”
Rehearsing for two hours every Friday morning at the St. Francis High School Auditorium, the band boosts members' skills while immersing them in a non-traditional ensemble.
"It's cheap lessons over the summer,” noted Charlie Hornbogen, an eighth-grade bass player at West Junior High in his first year of summer band. "Fun music and it's pretty fast paced.”
The band welcomes music students from the Traverse City Area Public Schools and other local schools, including the Traverse City Christian School, the Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools and the new College Preparatory Academy. Geared to musicians ranging from beginners to advanced high-schoolers, the band also welcomes recent high school graduates plus adult musicians to play and help guide students.
"I think the program is a good program and has a lot to offer the kids,” said Todd Oliver.
A trombone player with the Northwestern Michigan College Jazz Band and Big Band, Oliver's son, Logan, plays the trumpet in the summer band. Oliver noted that the music selected engaged the younger players, keeping them interested and providing a crucial component of learning.
"It's challenging but at the same time it's stuff they like to play,” he said.
Sometimes the mix of instruments included in the band surprises participants. Generally, the musical lines between orchestra and band or band and rock and roll are firm.
"It's really strange because I hear all these instruments behind me,” said Gracie Probst, a ninth grade student at East Junior High who plays violin in the school's orchestra. "It's fun because I get to play more upbeat songs instead of just classical.”
Like Hornbogen, this is Probst's first year in the summer band. She relished both the experience and her growth as a musician during a season where it is easy to lose ground.
"Last summer I had lessons because I didn't want to fall behind and I thought this would be a thing to keep up but it was really fun,” she added.
The public is welcome to attend the remaining Encore Summer Band's concerts on Thursday, Aug. 30, at 5:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Sept. 4, at 5 p.m. at Lars Hockstad Auditorium at Central Grade School. Admission is free and donations will be accepted to benefit the Traverse City Music Boosters. The goal is to establish a scholarship in the name of the Encore Society of Music for the Music Boosters.