About Us

Annual Meeting
October 7, 2024
Jack Prindle, Music Director

Since my last Director’s Report on Oct. 9, 2023, we have rehearsed thirty-nine times and performed twelve times. All of our rehearsals were held in the Great Hall of the Crescent Lodge #109 of the Free & Accepted Masons in Enumclaw. Performances which we had on Veterans Day and in the Enumclaw Holiday Parade in the past did not happen this “year” (Tahoma National Cemetery is no longer having a Veterans Day ceremony and the person who usually carries us in the Holiday Parade was ill). Our winter concerts, entitled “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, were performed on December 3rd and 4th in the Community Auditorium at Enumclaw High School. Daisy Nau joined us as a guest vocalist on two pieces, and led the audience in the sing-along at the end of the concert. Our Spring concerts, entitled “A Beacon of Light” were presented in the Theater at White River High School on March 24th and 25th. Attendance at our spring concerts is typically lower than December and June, but attendance wasn’t too bad, especially when you consider the change in location (from our usual venue at Enumclaw High School). Jessie Sanchez played a solo on alto saxophone with the band and three assistant conductors (Stephanie Magnusson, Karen Ruckman and Todd Frazier) directed four pieces while I played percussion. The band performed for Memorial Weekend ceremonies in Enumclaw (on Sunday, May 26th) and at the Tahoma National Cemetery (on Monday, May 27th). The band was well “staffed” for both ceremonies and played very well. Because of the performance on Memorial Day, we did not rehearse on Monday, May 27th. Our next two concerts, entitled “Name Those Tunes XXV” were performed on Monday, June 17th in Enumclaw, and on Monday, 24th in Bonney Lake. Cool and wet weather forced us to move the Enumclaw concert into the Community Auditorium at Enumclaw High School. The weather was better for the Bonney Lake concert, which was presented at Creator Lutheran Church (our first time at that location). Paige Rooney played a solo on tenor saxophone with the band. We performed the Independence Day parade in Enumclaw on Thursday, July 4th. All the needed parts were covered and our participation in the parade was very successful. Todd Frazier (and two others) directed the rehearsal on July 29th while I was attending the Birch Bay Band music workshop in Bellingham. Our August concerts, entitled “Jubilance and Peace”, were at Rotary Centennial Park in Enumclaw on Monday, August 12th, and at Creator Lutheran Church in Bonney Lake on Monday, August 19th. Chris Beinke played a solo on the trumpet with the band and Stephanie Magnusson and Karen Ruckman directed the band on one piece each. On Sunday, September 8th, about 3⁄4 of the band played on the Showcase Stage at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup.

On Monday, Sept. 9th, we recorded our “Summer Favorites of 2024” in the Great Hall of the Masonic Temple where we rehearse. Based on preferences expressed by 28 of our members, I planned a list of 12 pieces (of the 23 we performed this summer) for the session. Todd Frazier recorded the session and I prepared archival CDs, which 17 of our members ordered (for $10 each).

Since my last Director’s Report, we have had seven new members join the band (two flutes, clarinet, tenor saxophone, trumpet, tuba and percussion); two players have formally left the band (flute and trumpet). Eight “long-absent” players have been removed from the roster, though they have not formally told us they are leaving the band (two flutes, two clarinets, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone and tuba) Two members (bass clarinet and trumpet) have been absent lately but are expected (or at least hoped) to return. We could especially use more trombone players, but new players are always welcome on just about all instruments.

Todd Frazier has generously agreed to record our concerts and Summer Favorites recording session and has “engineered” excellent recordings of each. I have prepared archival CDs of each recording, in clear CD cases with front and back covers listing the tracks and personnel, with cover art suitable for each CD, for those band members who wished to purchase one or more (for $10 each).

All 28 pieces available for sponsorship this year were sponsored. Assuming everyone paid, it should have raised $2,617 (much more than the $2,000 budgeted for music purchase).

The band trailer is still safely stored in the yard of Sheri Bundy, for which we pay her $125 per month. The roof was “re-sealed” after a water leak was detected and we have had the wheel bearings, trailer brakes and emergency brake battery serviced. Our laser printer (Bruce) and our ink-jet printer (Edwin) are in good condition and working adequately.

A generous (and unsolicited) donation of $10,000 to the band in January enabled us to purchase a much-needed replacement for our out-of-tune xylophone, add a few tom-tom drums, and perform the aforementioned service on our equipment trailer. We also transferred almost half the donation to our savings account, which gives us more financial stability over the course of our fiscal year. I’m hopeful we will “upgrade” some of our percussion instruments, in particular the vibraphone and chimes in the future.

We continue to store our music and equipment in a heated storage unit at Enumclaw Self-Storage. Though it’s a little pricey (a little over $94 per month), we get a 10% discount because we’re a non-profit and a free month’s rent by paying for a year at a time. Some time in the coming year, we plan to give the storage unit a good cleaning, removing unneeded items and installing shelves to use the space more efficiently.

I have selected themes for our concerts for the upcoming year, as follows:

December 2024: “Holiday Joy”
April 2025: “Fantastic Journey”
June 2025: “Name Those Tunes XXVI”
August 2025: “Summer Sprites”

I want to acknowledge and thank several people who have performed vital jobs for the band: Susan Evans, Communications Director; Jessie Sanchez, Social Media Coordinator; Leslie Frazier, Music Librarian; Wendy Parker, Concert Coordinator; Stephanie Magnusson, Membership Coordinator; and Todd Frazier, who ably maintains our website. I really appreciate the help with setting up and taking down the chairs, stands and percussion for rehearsals and performances, though I am a little concerned that it seems to fall to the same four or five people most of the time. I also want to thank those who have served on our Governing Board, particularly Oliver Contla and Leslie Frazier, who complete their terms at the end of the month. Thanks also goes to our continuing Governing Board members: Scott Freisthler, Terry Tomt and Howard Webb.

In October of 2022, I announced my intention to retire from directing this group within the next three years. Part of my purpose was to motivate the band to figure out how to do the many things I had been doing for the band which were outside the responsibilities of a Music Director. Much has been accomplished to take over those responsibilities, and with the agreement of Terry Tomt to act as our Volunteer Coordinator, only the position of Equipment Manager remains to be filled. I am more and more comfortable that the band can function well after my retirement with just the hiring of a new Music Director. Will I retire in October, 2025? It will depend on my health and energy level, if I want to be free to pursue other interests, and if the band wants me to continue as the Music Director. My appointment as Music Director has always been renewable (or not) every year. At this time, I am willing to continue for another year, should the Governing Board wish to offer the position to me.

In conclusion, I want to thank you for another wonderful year of fantastic music-making and great enjoyment and satisfaction together.