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Orchestra to play on Connellsville High School stage

By Patty Yauger 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – The legendary Glenn Miller Orchestra will bring its “big band” style of music to the Connellsville Area High School stage Friday as the city continues to celebrate its 200-year history. “The music of Glenn Miller was so popular during the World War II era and continues to be today,” said Judy Keller, bicentennial committee member. “We are very pleased that the orchestra has included Connellsville in its 2006 concert calendar.”

The doors will open at 6:45 p.m. with the concert to begin at 7:30 p.m. There is no reserved seating.

The first orchestra formed by the Iowa-born Miller in 1937 was a failure, according to band historians.

A second initiative the following year proved to be successful and produced a string of hit records that drew crowds to concerts or to their radios at home.

Henry F. Molinaro, local musician and current director of the Molinaro Band, said that although only a young boy as the orchestra rose in popularity, the music of Glenn Miller was influential, as he grew older.

“(The Glenn Miller Orchestra) became popular right before World War II,” recalled Molinaro. “While the Molinaro Band plays the marching or patriotic-type music, many of its past and present members have played the music of Glenn Miller.”

After the start of World War II, however, many Connellsville residents were listening to the Molinaro Band as it sent countless soldiers off to war.

“We played for many (military) draftees as they left from the train station or the West Penn Terminal,” said Molinaro. “Whether it was day or night, the Molinaro Band was there.”

Miller, meanwhile, disbanded his musical organization in 1942 and volunteered for the Army and while on active duty, led the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band.

On Dec. 15, 1944, while traveling from England to France where the band’s next scheduled concert was to be held, his single-engine plane crashed. The army declared him officially dead a year later.

The orchestra was re-established in 1956.

Molinaro said that although not by the family band, the swing-style music of the Glenn Miller Orchestra was played by numerous local dance bands, including a few he was associated with during his early days.

“I’ve played in a band called the Silvo-Tones,” he said. “We played in the Pittsburgh area and played some of the Glenn Miller songs.”

Notable songs of the orchestra include “Chattanooga Choo-Choo,” “Moonlight Serenade,” Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree” and “In the Mood.”

Todd Reagan, bicentennial committee, said that after the concert, participants are invited to a reception in the high school cafeteria, where festivities will continue with complimentary cake, ice cream, coffee and punch to be served.

“There will also be music for dancing,” said Reagan, adding that the orchestra members have also been invited to attend.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door on Friday.

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