Wakefield Concert Band
Band History
(Historical reference by Oliver H. Stedman, “Stories of South County’s Past” Vol. 3,1973, with additional research by Dave Cherlin)
In 1878 the Peace Dale Mills erected the first Bandstand for the community in and around the Village of Peace Dale. Since then the Band, its Band Directors, and Band Rosters have evolved over the past 131 years. These names and people have been compiled since its beginning.
Previous Band Names: Roger Williams Band (1878-1893); Carpenter’s Band, Wakefield Band, Citizens Band (1894-1908); Acme Band, Wakefield Military Band (1908); Peace Dale Cornet Band (1920); Wakefield Band (1928); Wakefield Civic Band (1985-2009); and Wakefield Concert Band (2009 to the Present).
Band Directors have included: James Carpenter (1878-1887), Charles E. Wright (1887-1891), Edmund Lyons (1891-1893), George Northup (1894), E. Wheeler Griffin (1898-1902), Latham Eccleston (1902), George Oilweiller (1903), Elisha Holland (1908-1917), Harry B. Barber (1917- 1919), T. Clarke Brown (1928- 1941), Roger W. Thomas (1930’s-1948), Dave Price (1985-1996), Toni Wrigley (1996-2000), and Barry Lieberman (2000 to the Present).
Copyright 2009 - 2012 Wakefield Concert Band
The Wakefield Concert Band web site is designed and maintained by Cynthia E. Field
Click on this link to read our bylaws, adopted in October 2010.
THE WAKEFIELD CIVIC BAND (1985-2009)
Directors: David Price (1985-1996), Toni Wrigley (1996-2000), Barry Lieberman (2000-2009); flute: Lee Ferrera, Barbara Bradley, Barbara Wunderler-Selby, Linda Knisley, Stephanie Price, Debbie Kiefer and Marjorie Nozzi; clarinet: Fred Basso, Bruce Laferriere, Domenic Mainelli, Crissy Mesrobian, Larry Rothstein, Steve Hiss, Steve Brown, Richard J. Lafond, Sr., Elaine Shanley, Cindy Field, Frank DeLuise, Stacey Snow; bass clarinet: Roy Clark, Amy DiStasio, Tom Maines, Joanna Price; saxophone: Rebecca Niemi, Robert Grow, Laura Cary, Malin Gibbs, Richard Calabro, Richard J. Lafond, Sr., David Stephenson, Brian Becote, Debbie Guerrette, Rick Sabourin, Mike Chappell and Jay Swoboda, Mark Moffett; trumpet: Eric Willis, Tom Galligan, Ed Miguel, Randy Miller, Doreen Snow, Joe Miller, Alex Patton and Aaron Clark; French horn: Kevin Travor, Heather Osborne, Donna Knott, and Bob Knott; trombone: Paschal Viglionese, Hope Benn, Yngve Ramstad, Harvey Fugere, David Cherlin, Bevin Mitchell, Roy Kiefer, Jan DeNijs and George ( Bucky ) Wildes; baritone: Bill Edwards and Art Guarino; tuba: Keith Garrison, Nathan Lauder, Len Jones, Ray Vallee; percussion: Helen Farrell Allen, Warren Hagist, Helen Gersuny and Clancy Mahen.
THE WAKEFIELD BAND (1928)
Director: T. Clarke Brown; flute and piccolo: John Maines; clarinet: Joseph Roy, Romello Signorelli, William Richmond, Peter Lucier, Edward Dockray, William Webster, Howard Vars and Virgil Yemma; saxophone: Norris Tucker; cornet: G. Edward Maines, Hobart Caswell, Roger Thomas, Antimo DiBiasio, William Northup and Russell Potter; altos: Harry Clarke and Crawford Hart; trombone: Frank Whittier, Luke Purcella and Tom Bell; baritone: Leslie Dawley and Harold Bosworth; tuba: Paul Dixon, William Dillman and Harold Barber; drums: Edwin Jones and Gilbert Prouty.
THE CITIZENS BAND (1894-1908)
Director: George Northup; solo clarinet and Assistant Director Louis Stedman; 1st clarinet: Ray Northup and Arthur Stedman; 2nd clarinet: Charles Cook; E-flat clarinet: Orin Gardiner; solo cornet: Charles Wright and Edwin Northup; 1st cornet: Isaac and D. Frank Holland; altos: Ray Northup and John Carpenter; trombone: Charles Cummings, George Holland and G. Fred Fraser; baritone: Herbert Champlin; tuba: Paul Dixon; drums: Fred Brown and Stanley Hammond; and cymbals: Henry Clarke.
Band Rosters
History of the Wakefield Concert Band
“The Wakefield Civic Band rehearses for Sunday’s performance at the Kingston Congregational Church. David Price (bottom left) is the band director. Leonard Jones (bottom right), a retired minister, eases out a note on his sousaphone.”
The Narragansett Times
Thursday, August 27, 1987
“The Wakefield Civic Band, conducted by David Price, gives a concert Saturday outside the Clark Memorial Library in Carolina.”
The Narragansett Times
Wednesday, June 19, 1991
“Thanks to Wakefield Band”
by Jean A. Bradley
The Narragansett Times
Wednesday, July 5, 1995
“President Harvey Fugere of the Wakefield Civic Band welcomes new band director Toni Wrigley at her first rehearsal on Monday, Sept. 16. The band meets Mondays at 7:30 p.m. in South Kingstown Junior High School, 301 Curtis Corner Rd., and welcomes brass, woodwind and percussion players to participate.”
The Narragansett Times
Wednesday, September 25, 1996
“Traditional Christmas carols ring through the night at the annual Neighborhood Guild tree-lighting Sunday.”
The Narragansett Times
Wednesday, December 12, 1990
WAKEFIELD CONCERT BAND (2010 to Present)
Director Barry Lieberman
Wakefield Concert Band elects first slate of officers and board members as a self-supporting musical organization.
South County Independent
Thursday, January 6, 2011