Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont internship, for Lakes Region Living
POULTNEY — Joe Szabo has had a long and successful music career, most recently dedicating 12 years to directing the Poultney-Granville Town Band.
Earlier this month, he decided it was time to “pass the baton” and resume his former role as clarinet player in the band.
Rusty Wescott, the band’s president and business director, said members will miss him as director but understand his decision.
“We’re sad that he is going to be stepping down because he’s done such a tremendous job,” Wescott said. “We also fully understand that he puts in so much time and so much effort into what is really a volunteer position.”
Szabo brought decades of professional experience to the band, including a bachelor’s degree in clarinet from West Chester University and a master’s degree in music education from Western Connecticut State University.
He joined the band as a clarinet player in 2012 after retiring from the Arlington Central School District, where he taught music for 26 years.
“When he entered the group, he did so very quietly and at the recommendation of a relative of his who also played with us,” said Wescott, recalling how Szabo became director. “By the second year he was with us, we had made him an assistant director, where he was given a few songs to direct each concert, and in 2014 he took over as our lead director.”
Szabo said he greatly enjoyed directing the group, which is made up of amateur and professional musicians from Vermont and New York.
“We get a lot done, and we have a lot of laughs,” Szabo said.
The band hosts two major events each year, including a summer concert series held on the East Poultney Green and at Granville Veterans Memorial Park from July through August, and their annual Christmas concert at St. Raphael’s Church in Poultney.
Although he couldn’t name a single favorite piece or performance, Szabo said he especially enjoyed putting together the Christmas concerts, and added that the last one went “very, very well.”
“I like all the variety in the summer, (but) I get to do more really in-depth things with the Christmas concert, and that seems to be becoming a really fun activity with the community (and) with the band. They look forward to it every year.”
Inspired by community bands he played for in his hometown of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Szabo aimed to bring variety to the Poultney-Granville Town Band.
“We basically do marches, show tunes, feature performances, solos with the band, and then novelty — so it’s the gamut. I always felt you can’t go (with) one genre because then you might miss that person. There’s something for everybody,” Szabo said.
Board member Nancy Luzer has known Szabo for 15 years, having played with him in the Green Mountain Community Band before the Poultney-Granville Town Band. She agreed he will be missed.
“He’s brought it along. We play at a higher level. The band has grown in size, and he encourages everybody. He’s never mean or condescending — he’s very respectful, and he’s fun, too,” Luzer said.
According to Wescott, the band grew from about 20 to 25 musicians to about 40 per concert under Szabo’s leadership.
In addition to performing, Szabo will remain on the Board of Directors as Director Emeritus and may assist the incoming director as needed.
“It simply means he was the previous person that held that position who will be happy to assist and step in briefly,” Wescott said.