The Van Wert County Courthouse

Friday, Mar. 29, 2024

Local musicians love to make music

This Friday night in Fountain Park there will be a band concert. It features many adults who have either continued with, or rediscovered, music making. The Van Wert Area Community Concert Band is a musical organization where amateur musicians can come together and enjoy making music for people to listen to, although I kind of think they would enjoy the activity just for the reward of making music for themselves. This band is filled with people, from teens to over 90 years old. One of the real “cool” things about making music is that it can be done and shared with each other regardless of your age.

This Friday night, the Van wert Area Community Concert Band will feature a musician who made most of his living working at Central Insurance during the day, but playing at night and on weekends. A wise professor of mine once said: “You can play around when you’re young and work like a dog the rest of your life, or you can work like a dog while you are young and play the rest of your life!” He was referring to practicing a musical instrument.  Glen Poling is a man who has been able to play music the rest of his life … and what a life it has been!  Although Glen has played in community band and church on the baritone horn mostly, his real love is the guitar.  Glen has played all over the country with fellow musicians as part of jazz and dance bands

This Friday night, Glen will be featured with the VWACCB in Fountain Park playing his guitar.  At 90 years old, he seems to keep going like the Eveready Bunny of music. I am sure Glen has played more music than most anyone in Van Wert. When in town, he plays baritone horn with the concert band and also guitar with many Limaland musician friends. In the last couple decades, he has spent winters in Florida and, of course, made friends with fellow musicians and entertains retirees enjoying the warmth of the winter in Florida.

The VWACCB is what used to be the Masonic Fellowcraft Band. Some of the same players from that band have continued through the transitions and continue playing. Richard Sherrick, legendary and now retired band director from Parkway Local Schools, has taken over the reins as conductor and has attracted new musicians. I heard the band play at the Van Wert County Historical Museum on July 4 and they are making some very enjoyable music. I hope you can attend their concert in Fountain Park this Friday night and enjoy a good old band concert in the park and hear one of Van Wert’s finest and most seasoned musicians, Glen Poling.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. just like all our Fountain Park Summer Music Series concerts. Food will be served out of the Rotary concession booth for you to enjoy.

Also on the docket for this weekend is a new festival called “Eats on the Street/Art from the Fort,” which is sponsored by Main Street Van Wert and Wassenberg Art Center. Food vendors and activities will be located on Central Avenue from 4-11 p.m. this Saturday. There will even be a duck race down Town Creek. Launch time is 6:15 p.m. from the footbridge in back of Wassenberg Art Center. Come downtown and enjoy a fun time and take in some music at the Wassenberg Art Center too!

The following week, we return with a Fountain Park Summer Music Series concert featuring a band from Brooklyn, New York, called “Shot Gun Wedding.”  It will be a city/country band that features all kinds of music styles played by some outstanding musicians who currently play with the likes of Billy Joel, Shania Twain, Bon Jovi, and Dianna Ross just to name a few. Their music, which is on the Country side, has been compared to the sounds of Loretta Lynn, George Jones and Merle Haggard. They are outstanding musicians and I think you’re gonna love them!

Lastly, today is the beginning of Select Series sales at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. This is where anyone wishing to select three or more concerts may purchase tickets for the upcoming season.  It’s always a big day and with the line-up for this season, I expect many seats to get eaten up by the end of today (Wednesday.) Sales begin at noon and can be purchased in person at the box office, online (www.npacvw.org) or by calling (419.238.NPAC 6722.) There are 25 outstanding performances and events to choose from. Don’t lose out. Think now about the ones you wish to attend and get your tickets before we’re sold out!

FINÉ.

POSTED: 07/08/15 at 6:20 am. FILED UNDER: News