Personnel 2024-2025

Flute Irene Bamrick* Lisa Beebe Heather Prouty Jennifer Korschgen Lily Gabriel Laura Jones Martha Morgan Shannon Formanack Mary Jo Aleks Piccolo Heather Prouty Oboe Diane Sauerbrunn* Clarinet Donna Johnson* Bobbi Foot Eric Eribaum Tony Kaufman Alison Strom Karisa Pierce Diane Pell Bass Clarinet Jean Davis Bonnie Imbrogno Bassoon Bruce Wilson* Holly Wilson

Alto Saxophone Honey Kimmel* Chris Pastor Jennette Cisneros Dick Johnson Tenor Saxophone Harvey Cefalu * Pam Wolfe Bari Saxophone Tom Muchka* French Horn Jeanette Tippetts* Heather Benson Kelda Lewis Bob Beffel Gary Tippetts Josefina Wilson Sharon Stinard Barb Anderson Trumpet Dan Anderson* Randy Rogers Gary Sauerbrunn Hans Jessen Tony Bamrick Tom McIntire Frank Grace Jon Hembree Bill Miller Matt Wharton Cindy Biggs Dee Budde Frank Pycha

Trombone Delwin Stapley* Cindy Gardner Robert Van Eerde Keith James George Bock Euphonium Kristopher Staller* Don Larry Tom Krech Nikki White   Tuba Russ Colby* Don Johnson Wayne Kuehl Percussion Loretta Rite* Chris Perry Rob Abbatomarco Will McCulloh   *Section Leader Announcer Chris Perry

Message from MCB Director, Larry Baedke

As the director of the Mesa City Band, I am continually impressed with its members. As an educator I was always a believer in what music can do for a person's sense of self-worth. The feeling of accomplishment doesn't have to wait for a printout of final results -- it's immediate. This feeling elevates one's spirit and spills over into other non-related pursuits. This is evident in schools that have instrumental music programs.

After leaving instrumental programs in the public schools, many continue to enjoy music by performing in various adult ensembles. You could even say they have "unfinished business". This unfinished business comes in various forms; some are striving to increase their musicianship, while others simply enjoy the camaraderie of joining with others to create beautiful music.

It is my privilege and honor to direct a group of people who exemplify an enduring love for instrumental music. This year you will have an opportunity to hear them in a public performance at the Mesa Arts Center on March 9th, in the Piper Theater. Be sure to look for more information on our website as the time approaches!

About the Directors

Larry Baedke wore two hats in the Mesa City Band (Assistant Director and one of the band's top trumpet players) until April 2006 when he became the director. He had assisted Tom Kacere, our former director, since 1989. Mr. Baedke taught band in the Minnesota Public Schools from 1967 to 1973 and has been involved in Arizona music education since 1973. Larry retired after 32 years as band director and department chairman of the Poston Junior High music department in 2005.

Since coming to Arizona, he has been active in the state’s youth music program and has served as Solo and Ensemble Festival chairperson, clinician, adjudicator, and has conducted the Honor Band at Northern Arizona University’s Summer Music Camp. He also has been guest conductor at various junior high band festivals in the Phoenix area. An excellent trumpet player, he freelances and enjoys performing in Arizona's Official Historical Brass Band (a turn-of-the-century brass band) called Territorial Brass.

Larry is a native of Iowa. He is a graduate of Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa (now Buena Vista University). He has done graduate work at the University of Minnesota under Dr. Frank Bencriscutto as well as at Northern Arizona University and Arizona State University.

------------------------------------

Chris Perry has been a member of the Mesa City Band since 2004. In 2011 he was made the Assistant Director.  Chris is an active musician in Mesa and Tempe:  Associate Conductor of the SilverRidge Pops Orchestra, Director of the Sunland Singers Choir, and Director of the St. Mark's Episcopal Church's Praise Band.

Aside from his directing roles, Chris also performs on a variety of instruments including guitar, piano and flute.  He is the pianist for Swing Memories Big Band, which performs in a variety of venues in Mesa and Apache Junction.

Chris graduated from ASU with a BM in Music Composition and Theory.  He continues to write and arrange music in a variety of styles for the various groups in which he is involved.  He also teaches private guitar and piano students from his home in Phoenix.

History of the Mesa City Band

The band was originally founded at the turn of the century (1900) by a small group of Mesa citizens who wanted some special music for a community event. Because of the success of that endeavor, the band continued until it was disbanded in 1942 during the war. It was re-established in 1947, but again disbanded a few years later. Jimmy Lindsey and Herman Berringer founded the Mesa Community Band in December 1967, rehearsing at the old Mesa High School bandroom. It was renamed Tri City Band in the mid-1970s at the urging of some of the band members who came from Tempe and Chandler. In the early 1980's the band received funding from the City of Mesa and changed its name to the Mesa City Band. The band rehearses weekly on Wednesday evenings and presents concerts throughout the East Valley at a wide variety of private and public events. If you are an amateur musician seeking a life-long musical experience, you can surely find it in the Mesa City Band. Prospective players are asked to contact Larry Baedke, the director, who determines any openings in the Band and its instrumentation. The Mesa City Band has a goal of spreading the joy of American concert band music to all of the citizens of Mesa and the East Valley. It also provides music in more intimate venues with its Small Band of about 35 members. They still make a big sound! The Band's traditional venues include retirement parks, public schools, and civic, private, and public events. The Band plays both indoors and outdoors, having performed concerts in the Mesa Amphitheater and Centennial Hall. The Band has also played on the deck of swimming pools, on golf courses, in public parks, and in school playgrounds. The Band is proud of its traditions, its mission, and its history of service to the community.