Waltham
American
Legion Band
Waltham, Massachusetts
Latest information on the Band and
its members may also be found by clicking on Facebook.
Read about the band in the Boston
Globe West, Sunday, June 27.
John
O'Toole, Music Director
(To visit a page, click on the highlighted title)
Introduction
The Waltham American Legion Band is an
all-volunteer band, originally directed by Dot
Hill, Larry Gilbo, Ed Russo, and now John O'Toole. The membership consists
of men and women who enjoy playing music
together. The band plays 25 to 30 parades and 8 to 10 concerts annually
throughout New England and the Greater Boston Area. The band travels in
its own bus from Waltham to the parade or concert site.
Uniforms, music, and stands are supplied, as well as percussion and
sousaphones.
Revenues from the
parades and concerts supply the band expenses as well as
the major cost of an annual trip, frequently to the American Legion
Annual Convention. At these conventions the Band enters
competition with other marching bands from throughout the country.
Rehearsals are
held at the Waltham American Legion Post 156, 215 Waverley Oaks Road,
(Corner Rte. 60 and Beaver Street), Waltham, MA. on Monday
evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.
New members of
all ages are most welcome. Most of our members have played
in
high school and college bands. Auditions are not necessary.
You'll find you'll get up to speed quickly. There's probably a
band
member in your home town. For
more information: Tim Curtin, President, 617-244-7996,
tcurtin@nauglermold.com or George Whapham, Clerk, 508-485-8499,
georgewhapham@comcast.net
The Waltham Legion Post
also hosts the Soft Touch Dance Band, an 18 piece "big band"
specializing in music from the '40s and '50s. The band
was formed in 1980 by members of the Waltham American Legion Band
and contributes its net proceeds to college scholarships.
Its web site is at www.softtouchband.org