Mary McJoynt plays the saxophone as part of the Bonita Village String Band. The band will play during the lighting ceremony on Dec. 5 at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs.
The Bonita Village String Band plays at their own pace. They tap their feet to the beat and sing along in between sets.
The music is classical with an old-time beat and that relaxed enjoyable feel is what the band wants people to feel when they watch their shows.
The group had its first rehearsal for the 2006-2007 season recently and worked hard to get the kinks out.
“We have a need for a violin player and a few others. Some of our members haven’t come from up north yet but we will get it all together for our first show,” said music director Al Dalton.
He put the band together in 1991 after moving to Bonita St. James Village and realizing that he missed the Philadelphia musical groups called “mummers,” which first appeared in that city’s New Year’s Day parade.
The string bands began small in 1902, but became large enough to include saxes and drums much like the group Dalton has created in Bonita Springs.
“I love it and that’s why I’ve stuck with it all these years,” said Barbara Kachensky, who is the associate director for the band and the keyboard player. She has been a member since the beginning and enjoys dressing up in the traditional mummer style, where lively bands play melodies and wear exotic costumes.
The band is voluntary and all proceeds collected during performances are donated to a scholarship fund for students interested in pursuing music.
“We gave four scholarships this year and we are unique because the students are elementary and middle school aged,” said Dalton, about the $1,000 scholarships. “That makes us the only organization in Lee and Collier county that gives money to that age group.”
The money has helped students build careers out of music.
“The collections we take are to help the kids out that can’t help themselves and we have fun doing it,” said Kachensky, whose band has donated 38 scholarships in 15 years.
Having fun is also a big part of rehearsal. As certain songs are sung, dancers will get up and practice some of the routines they will later perform for audiences.
“We have all sorts of fun and have performed all over in mobile home villages, churches and anywhere we fit,” said Earl Sturm, of Bonita Springs. Strum is a founding member and serves as the master of ceremonies for the band making jokes during his announcements.
Members of the band come from Bonita Springs, Naples and Fort Myers and include about 80 musicians and a chorus line.
The group will open their season – about one show a week – with a performance during the lighting ceremony at Riverside Park on Dec. 5 at 5 p.m.
“We are all hams, we love to sing and put on a good show,” Kachensky said. “We have doing it and people always give us a standing ovation.”
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