Arion Band facts for kids
The Arion Band is one of the oldest community bands in the United States. It started way back in 1877 in Frostburg, Maryland. A community band is a group of people from a town who love to play music together, often for fun and for their local community.
The band's current director is Dr. Ronald Horner, who teaches percussion (like drums and xylophones) at Frostburg State University. Todd Logsdon is the band's current president.
The Arion Band practices at their historic Arion Band Hall, which was built in 1895, on Uhl Street in Frostburg. They usually perform 5 to 10 concerts during the summer in the Frostburg and Cumberland areas.
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Who Was Arion?
The band is named after a famous musician from ancient Greece called Arion. Legend says he was a "Jolly Mon" (a happy fellow) who was saved by dolphins! Pirates threw him overboard, but friendly dolphins rescued him and carried him safely to shore.
A Band with History
How the Band Started
A group of German-Americans living in Frostburg decided to create the German Arion Band in 1877. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was very common for towns in the U.S. to have at least one community band. These bands were often made up of local shopkeepers, farmers, and even children who enjoyed playing music. If a town had many immigrants, you might even find different bands for German-Americans or Italian-Americans, just like in the musical The Music Man.
A Name Change During Difficult Times
During World War II, there was a lot of anti-German feeling. Because of this, the band changed its name from the German Arion Band to the Frostburg Arion Band. This helped them avoid problems during a tough time.
The Band Today
Even though the band started with German-Americans, it doesn't only have members from that background anymore. However, many people in the region still have German heritage. Today, the Arion Band has between 30 and 40 musicians. The members range in age from 14 all the way up to 80 years old! People from the local community and students, including some from the Frostburg State University marching band, all play together in the Arion Band.
Most community bands like this disappeared by the late 20th century, which makes the Arion Band's long history even more special!
