Group joins together to share its ‘love of music’
The West Central Ohio Community Concert Band has enjoyed a rich history in Logan County now for more than three decades, offering community members the chance to create beautiful music together, to develop close-knit friendships and to delight audiences during their free concerts in indoor and outdoor venues.
The band is prepping for the its 33rd season with a new director, with one of the founding members — Joe Antram — stepping into the important role.
Antram, also one of Logan County’s three commissioners, retired as the Bellefontaine High School band director in 2013, and he is excited to resume a director role through the WCOCCB, with big plans for the upcoming season and beyond.
He invites new and returning members to band rehearsals, which begin Tuesday, May 6, at the Bellefontaine High School band room. The rehearsals continue weekly on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
“Whether you’re a seasoned performer or looking to dust off your instrument, we welcome players of all skill levels to share in the joy of making music together,” said Antram, who served as the BHS band director from 1983 until his retirement, and previously as a band director at West Liberty-Salem Schools beginning in 1977. His wife, Marianne, a flutist, is also a member of the band.
Auditions are not required for the WCOCCB, and interested area musicians are invited to stop in for the rehearsals. Players of all instruments are invited, with a specific current need for those playing percussion and trumpet.
“It’s important for us to have a strong instrumentation for blend and balance,” Antram said.
The band is approximately 50 members strong and its membership is from Logan County and each of the surrounding counties as well.
“We’re so fortunate to have this opportunity in our rural community,” said clarinet player Carrie Reynolds, who joined the band the year after its founding following her 1992 graduation from Bellefontaine High School. She has been a member ever since, and noted it’s a fun little flashback to high school, having Antram as her band director again.
“I’ve played for 40 years and I have not stopped. Right after high school, I played in college and then would come home in the summertime and play in the community band.
“It’s so easy once you graduate to put your musical instrument down and it collects dust in the closet. But music is a lifelong skill — I don’t know what I’d do without it. It’s such a wonderful outlet and you make good friends being part of the group.”
Bill Barrett was the first and longtime conductor of the WCOCCB. The non-profit 501c3 organization was founded in 1991 as a small group of musicians who first met at the Band Aid Shop in Bellefontaine. More recently, Myles Bowers, Benjamin Logan High School band director, stepped into the WCOCCB director role for the past five years.
In addition to the adult members, there also is a contingent of high school musicians who currently participate. Antram is coordinating with local high school band directors regarding new students showing strong musicianship skills who might like to join in.
The theme for the 2025 new season is “British Invasion,” Antram said, as a nod to the what was happening in America 250 years ago. The music will feature favorites from The Beatles and the British rock band Queen, along with British marches and other British origin groups/songs, showing how “British culture has influenced American music,” the director said.
Free summer community concerts during 2025 are set for the following dates and times:
• Sunday, June 29 — 6 p.m. at Brown Park, Bellefontaine;
• Sunday, July 20 — 2 p.m. at the Holland Theatre, Bellefontaine; and
• Sunday, Aug. 17 — 6 p.m. at Piatt Castle, West Liberty.
A Christmas concert will take place at the Holland Theatre as well, a well-attended tradition for the band as a way to spread holiday cheer.
Next year for the 2026 season, patriotic American music is planned to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country’s founding, Antram noted.
For every season, the band performs “Stars and Stripes,” the “Salute to the Armed Forces” and “Beautiful Ohio” at their concerts as well.
Whether you’re a musician who wants to hone their skills or a local resident who loves listening to live music, the band wants to spread the word about what they do and their longtime commitment to the community.
“We’re here and we want people to come join us — either as a musician or come and enjoy to a concert,” Reynolds said.
