About the Band
The Batavia Concert Band’s 87th season of music-making and free public concerts begins June 22 in Batavia’s Centennial Park. Additional concerts and parades will feature the Band at other locations and times including Batavia’s popular July 4 Picnic In The Park.
The Batavia Concert Band’s repertoire is wide-ranging in origin, period and style: marches, big-band and swing numbers, popular songs from musicals and movies, classical adaptations, rock favorites arranged for band, fun songs for kids of all ages … and everything in between.
The Band consists of about 50 brass, woodwind and percussion players ranging from talented local high school students to 60-year veterans. Many have professional experience; the rest are advanced amateur musicians. All love to play.
The conductor’s podium will be shared by veterans Phil Briatico, Wayne Burlison, Jane Haggett, Brad Meholick and Josh Pacino. Derek Reiss and Dizzy will again (tentatively) cap this year’s Concerts in the Park on August 10, as a benefit fundraiser for the Batavia Concert Band.
Founded in the early 1920s, the Batavia Concert Band has brought musical pleasure to the region every year except during WWII. The Band currently enjoys financial support from GO-ART, concert sponsors, program advertisers, and individual patrons. The Band also sponsors a “Sample of Western New York” gift certificate raffle from selected area restaurants and retailers, 50-50 raffles at every concert, bake sales and other low-key fundraisers.
Downbeat for regular season concerts is 7:00pm, Wednesday evenings, in Centennial Park*, Batavia, except a July 6 at the VA Medical Center, in honor of our veterans. (* In the event of rain, concerts will move to Genesee Community College’s Stuart Steiner Theater. Notices will be posted at the NW corner of Centennial Park and announced on WBTA.)
All concerts are free to the public of all ages. Light refreshments are usually available. Bring the family, some friends, lawn chairs or a blanket… and enjoy!
Summer 2011 concert season
| Date | Venue | Sponsor | Conductor |
| June 22 | Centennial Park, 7:00pm* | Kiwanis Club of Batavia | Wayne Burlison |
| June 29 | Centennial Park, 7:00pm* | United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) | Brad Meholick |
| July 4 | Centennial Park, 12:00 noon | GO ART! - Picnic in the Park | Brad Meholick |
| July 6 | VA Medical Center, 7:00pm | Genesee Veterans’ Club | Phil Briatico |
| July 13 | Centennial Park, 7:00pm* | Rotary Club of Batavia | Wayne Burlison |
| July 20 | Centennial Park, 7:00pm* | Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism & Substance Abuse (GCASA) | Jane Haggett |
| July 27 | Centennial Park, 7:00pm* | H.E. Turner & Bohm-Calarco-Smith Funeral Homes | Josh Pacino |
| Aug. 3 | Centennial Park, 7:00pm* | Jane Haggett | |
| Aug. 10 | Dizzy - Centennial Park, 7:00pm* | Dizzy (tentative) | Derek Reiss |
There is now an official page for the Batavia Concert Band. Become a fan to get updates on concerts and events!
Remember when family entertainment was participatory? The family was together… physically, not “virtually?” No TV, no cable, no internet, no cell phones, no texting, no IMing, no MP3 players, no Facebook or Twitter? When LIVE music was the center of community entertainment, celebration and leisure time?
Such was Batavia New York in 1924, when Angelo Colarusso arrived to form the Batavia Boys' Concert Band. Colarusso had earned medals and wide recognition in Europe and America as a conductor and baritone horn player.
In those first Batavia boys-only bands, Colarusso was both conductor and instrumental instructor, for which he charged the proud boys’ families the princely sum of $3 per month.
2009 Board of Directors
Ann Arent has been a board member for 4 years. She has worked for 31 years at UMMC and is also active in Resurrection Parish as treasurer of Sodality, a sacristan, and choir member. She and husband John live in Batavia and have two daughters. In her spare time Ann loves to cross-stitch.
Pam Frisby has served as Chair of the Board of Directors for five years. She is Payroll Supervisor for Keeler Construction in Albion, a lifelong Batavia resident, mother of two and proud grandmother of one. Pam was a member of the Elba Elegants, Quota International of Batavia, and is a tour guide at Genesee Country Village and Museum for Civil War, Halloween and Yuletide. Her hobbies include dog grooming, scrapbooking, gardening and banjo lessons.
New players are always welcome! The Batavia Concert Band provides a challenging performance opportunity for individuals who wish to preserve their technical musicianship, and participate in a quality musical group. Members are expected to purchase an official band shirt and participate in fundraising efforts as well as rehearsals and performances.
Player Participation Agreements are mailed in April/May for the summer concert season and must be returned by the date stipulated in order to be scheduled as an official band member. Anyone wishing to play after the deadline has passed may be allowed to volunteer if all other guidelines have been met.
The Batavia Concert Band will again make music in Centennial Park during its summer season of free concerts, 7:00pm every Wednesday, from June through August, plus additional concerts at Jackson Square, and area parades.
The Band marched in the Memorial Day parade and will lead off an afternoon of musical performance during this year's Independence Day Picnic in the Park.
The Batavia Concert Band's musical repertoire is wide-ranging in origin, style and period. In any concert audiences are likely to hear a mix of Sousa-style marches, Broadway show tunes, big-band numbers from the 30's and 40's, favorites from hit musicals and movies, pop, jazz and even rock numbers arranged for band, and everything in between.
