For the second year in a row, Making the Band (MTB) will return to the courthouse square on Lake Street in Owego, N.Y. on Friday, June 19 from 5:30 to 7:30. Although these musicians may be young, they still possess great talent and passion.
Founded in 2007, MTB recruits students from Owego Free Academy (OFA), giving them experience so that they may continue their music after they graduate. Many alumni like to check up to see what “their” band is doing. Particularly, Amy Czuhanich has been writing some of the new music arrangements for the band. MTB typically performs at school performances, local restaurants, and nearby venues. They have even played in Cleveland at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Daniel Fabricius, the band’s director, said, “Due to students graduating each year we usually need to ‘start over’ every August. We just want to keep providing a valuable musical experience to the students and also want to share our music with the community.”
This year’s members include Dylan Richmond on the saxophone, Alex Roberts on the trumpet, Brandon Corey on the trombone, Will Delaney and Maddy White on the keyboard, Trevor Hopler on the guitar, Gavin Neigh on the bass, and Chris Wieckhorst on the drums. The four vocalists are Coco Heitmann, Samantha Kuchinski, Erik Toft and Dan Wolfe.
MTB plays popular music from both classical and upcoming artists. With the number of members in the band, they are able to produce a large sound with vocal harmonies, an entire rhythm section, and a three-person horn section.
“The band members look forward to performing as long as we are able to. I think that people in our community enjoy hearing what students from their school can do,” Fabricius said.
For more information, Dan Fabricious can be contacted by phone at (607) 727-7877 or by email to Fabriciusd@oacsd.org.
