Sep 19, 2008 4 min read

The festival will feature special activities for the entire family with delicious foods, beautiful crafts and exciting concerts. Three musical groups that will perform are The Sammy Bill Orchestra, The River City Brass Band and Ray Ryan New Orleans Riverside Band.

Forty-seven years ago, The Sammy Bill Orchestra began on an impulse.

“On a whim, a friend and I just started to play,” said Sammy Bill of The Sammy Bill Orchestra. “It was a love of music.”

The Sammy Bill Orchestra originally began as a polka band and changed its repertoire to feature more popular songs of the day.

“Polkas were en Vogue years ago,” Bill said. “I liked them, and people were happy when we played them. We got into nightclubs and country clubs, and they wanted dance music.”

Today, The Sammy Bill Orchestra still plays an occasional polka along with many other genres of music.

“We have a variety of music. We play polkas, waltzes and even some rock music,” Bill said.

No matter what style of music the group is playing, Bill and the orchestra want to provide the audience with a quality and entertaining performance.

“We still enjoy playing for the people. We try to play as often as we can,” Bill said. “Sammy Bill is still in operation and playing quality music. It brings back good memories, and people really enjoy themselves.”

Also, joining The Sammy Bill Orchestra is Pittsburgh’s own River City Brass Band. Founded in 1981, the River City Brass Band has been delighting audiences for 27 years.

“It was formed in Pittsburgh when I was in grad school,” said Denis Colwell, the conductor and music director of the River City Brass Band. “When it was formed, they went out looking for brass players. After going to a few concerts, I decided to audition.”

After becoming a member of the band as a cornetist, Colwell became the assistant principal solo cornet and later in 1991, founder Robert Bernat named him associate conductor. It was in 1994 that Colwell performed all conducting duties and later all duties of the music director.

Bernat was not only a conductor and music director but also a talented composer. One of his original compositions, “Evensong,” is performed by the River City Brass Band and has special meaning to Colwell.

“I became friends with Bob Bernat, and we became close,” Colwell said. “He wrote a lot of compositions. This one (Evensong), he wrote for his wedding. When we perform it, it is one of the most emotional pieces for me.”

The River City Brass Band plays a wide array of music that covers big band, Broadway, American tunes and traditional marches to name a few.

“I hope the audience enjoys it,” Colwell said. “I really hope they will be uplifted by it and happy that they came and humming and tapping their feet a little.”

Also performing with the River City Brass Band is vocalist Lisa Yvonne Ferraro. Ferraro began singing at an early age.

“My first memory of singing was singing with the church,” Ferraro said. “From the age of 5, I was singing solos.”

Ferraro then want on to perform in the city of Pittsburgh, singing at weddings and corporate events.

Today, Ferraro focuses on performing jazz and inspirational music.

She has released five CDs, which are comprised of original compositions as well as jazz standards.

Ferraro hopes the audience walks away from seeing their performance with an introspective experience.

“On a clear level, I hope that they see live music is so packed with energy and goodness,” Ferraro said. “Second, I hope they felt that spark of love and feel that goodness. I hope people walk away inspired toward the highest good.”

Providing a southern sound at the Coal and Coke Heritage Music Festival is the Ray Ryan New Orleans Riverside Band.

Strolling through the campus from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the band will be able to offer festival guests a taste of the south.

“There are different styles that we play,” Ryan said. “One style is Cajun. The young people get into it. Another is the parade march.”

Whatever style the band chooses, audiences are going to have a good time.

“It is music you listen to that you forgot you liked,” Ryan said. “You go away feeling good.”

For more information about the Coal and Coke Heritage Music Festival, visit the Web site at www.coalandcokemusicfest.org.