| ¯We
are an old-fashioned community band that was founded in the fall of 2004 by
Becky and Josh Long.
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¯We are 25 members strong right now and growing quickly. |
| ¯We are a concert band that will play in a hall or outside in a park, as well as a marching band that is prepared for parades! Our idea is to play various styles of music such as John Philip Sousa-style concerts that include many marches and possibly some jazz as well! |
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¯We are centered in East Bangor, Pennsylvania, but welcome anyone who wants to become a member of the band, regardless of where they live. |
| ¯We practice every Wednesday night from 7:30-9:30pm at the East Bangor Fire Hall (30 East Central Ave. (Rt. 512) in East Bangor, PA). Everyone is welcome to drop by and take part in our rehearsals. *Please click here to see our most recent schedule. |
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¯We are devoted to our community, in the Slate Belt and the surrounding areas and aim to provide concerts for non-profit organizations and celebrations that are held within that community. |
| ¯Band Director - Joshua E. Long is a graduate of Bangor Area School District and received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the Penn State School of Music. His primary instrument is Euphonium/Baritone in which he plays in the Johnsonville Brass and Blue Eagles Alumni Drum & Bugle Corp. Josh co-owns and teaches instrumental music lessons at the Art & Music Emporium and also is the director of the New Horizon's Band of the Slate Belt. |
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¯Assistant Band Director - Robert Humphreys has been involved in a variety of bands throughout his life. He was a member of the East Bangor Cornet Band and the United States Marine Corps Band. Bob directed the Blue Valley Youth Band, which played at the New York's World Fair of 1965 under his direction. He also served as Drum Major for the Blue Eagles Drum and Bugle Corps for some time. Bob has played in a variety of dance bands too, including Bernie Parson's dance band and the Serenaders. Bob has been teaching music for over 40 years and he now plays Alto Saxophone with the Slate Belt Band. |
| ¯President - Becky L. Long is a graduate of Bangor Area School District. She went on to Penn State and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Art Education. She co-owns and teaches art lessons at the Art & Music Emporium. She is an artist as well, working mainly in acrylic and oil paints. Becky plays tuba in the Slate Belt Band, Johnsonville Brass, and also plays baritone in the Blue Eagles Alumni Drum & Bugle Corp. |
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¯Vice-President - Eileen Champa moved to Mount Bethel with her husband, Mike and her daughters, Samantha and Erin, in 2002, relocating from Wharton, N.J. where she had lived for 26 years. She attended Morris Hills High School and Bloomsburg University where she received a B.S. degree in Accounting. She currently is a stay at home mom and coaches her daughter's basketball and softball teams. She plays clarinet in the band and also is learning to play mellophone with the Emerald GrenaDears All Girl Drum and Bugle Corps. |
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¯Membership
Manager - Jane Gilbert
of East Bangor is a flautist and had only one (!)
year of lessons before joining the band in September 2005. She chose
the flute because of a love for its sound. She, also, admired the
Bangor High School band members for their wonderful performances and wanted
to make beautiful music, too. Jane is a graduate of BHS and E. Stroudsburg University. She and husband, Brian, are the owners of Bangor Hardware, Inc. (Do it Best) since 1989. They have one daughter, Julie. Jane's family encourages her to follow her dream. She would like to thank the Slate Belt Band for giving her the opportunity to make it happen.
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¯Public Relations Coordinator - Merci Hamilton graduated in 1998 from Bangor Area High School where she was highly active in the marching, pep, and concert bands as well as choir. She continued her passion while earning her Bachelors degree in Music and Biology from Moravian College in Bethlehem, playing with various bands and ensembles. Some of these include the Bethlehem Municipal Band, Allentown Municipal Band, college & intercollegiate ensembles and Lehigh Valley Pipe Band. Merci still plays with the Pipe Band as well as a Celtic folk group called Malarky. She can also be seen quite often at local jams & drumcircles, playing for the UU Church in Bethlehem, the Temple Covenant of Peace in Easton, with singer/guitarist Andy Nik, guest-drumming with a couple local rock bands, and anywhere else the music calls! When not playing, Merci works in research at Exxon-Mobil in New Jersey. She feels called back to some of her roots playing with the Slate Belt Band and is grateful for their invitation to the band even when her previous job's schedule would not allow her to get to most rehearsals. Marching in parades again, playing for all ages and groups as a community of musicians, and challenging herself with learning to play new instruments and music (ie, the bells/glockenspiel) are all wonderful aspects of being a part of the Slate Belt Band. |
