After a great deal of thought, Gerry Buccini, president of the St. Albert Community Band, has retired from the position he held for 43 years.
Hard-pressed to name another organization with one person leading the parade for so long, Buccini, 66, said there were signals it was time to let new faces handle the reins.
“The kitchen table now only has half the amount of paper on it,” laughs Buccini. “But I’ve had the best of both worlds and it was a fantastic run.” Although resigning as president, he continues as band clarinetist.
“He hates it when anyone says it, but Gerry has been the heart and soul of the community band for 43 years. Anyone who knows him, knows how much he loves it,” says conductor Dr. Angela Schroeder.
In the past year, Buccini experienced a few personal losses that made him face his own mortality. First, his younger brother Chris, a renowned British Columbia gymnast had a stroke and died within a few days.
On the heels of his brother’s tragic death, Jerry Wennes, the founding conductor of St. Albert Community Band, also passed away.
“When I look back, I wonder where have the 43 years gone?”
Buccini, who retired as vice-principal of W.D. Cuts School in 2005 after a 35-year stint with St. Albert’s Protestant School Board, was a dynamic advocate for music programs both within the school system and for the city.
In his role as St. Albert Community Band president, he acted as the organization’s spokesperson, oversaw the agenda, delegated duties, created policy and sometimes acted as “the devil’s advocate.”
“I would question plans and let them (board) convince me and themselves it was the right thing to do.”
The community band was actually founded in 1970 at a bar after a gig at Telus Field. Wennes, then conductor for the Princess Patricia Light Infantry band needed a clarinetist to play a concert in mid-August. He brought in Buccini. Over drinks the two men discovered they were both teaching in St. Albert.
“Jerry said to me, ‘I’m forming a band and you’re going to be my first president.’ And that’s how I got recruited.”
The Lions Club paid for the first batch of instruments and rehearsals were held at Ă©cole Father Jan before moving to Paul Kane High, the band’s permanent rehearsal hall for 40 years.
That first year 20 people marched in the door to play music. Five years later the numbers had doubled. Despite the musicians’ enthusiasm, it was a tussle getting the word out.
“More often than not, there were more people in the band than in the audience. It was a struggle to get people to come out. We fought for every inch.”
Over the years, Buccini, a potent lobbyist for the band, recruited musicians from every walk of life – doctors, lawyers, teachers, retirees, electricians, army personnel and policemen. “It was all over the map.”
Along the way, he collected an album full of memories. At the top of the list was a 2005 performance for Queen Elizabeth at the renaming of the Royal Alberta Museum.
“Afterwards, her car drove right past us and she waved to us. I tell everyone she waved to me.”
Another memory is the deep admiration provoked by Wade Brown, a blind tuba player. Because Brown couldn’t read music, he would sit beside his partner Neela Beel. She would record music for him. He took it home and listened to it.
“It was instant memorization. In spite of his handicap, he was an inspiration and that was something symbolic of what music can do for people.”
As president, Buccini organized numerous tours over the years. The most heart-warming and emotional was a tour to Trail, B.C. where he first nurtured a life-long love of music.
He still remembers Jackie Valutini, an old time musician pushing 90. He was once part of the Trail Band, but had to quit after he could no longer hold his instrument. Stumping along in his walker, Valutini asked Buccini if he could play with the touring band.
“We helped him onto the stage and every so often, when I had a moment, I would look over my shoulder and he was having the time of his life.”
Although Buccini has passed the presidential duties to another musical advocate, he has his hands full as a casino dealer, family babysitter, president of the Sir George Simpson Parent Association and member of the Alumni School Boy Band.
Buccini’s next appearance is with the St. Albert Community Band concert on Wednesday, June 12 at the Arden Theatre.
