Community Band Is Being Formed

The city’s looking for some area residents who want to show off their musical talents in Placentia’s first band.

Former Mayor Michael L. Maertzweiler, who retired this month after eight years on the City Council, is heading an effort to create Placentia’s first city-sponsored music group. The Community Services Office will run the group, which will be composed of volunteers.

“It’s a nice thing to give back to the community,” said Maertzweiler, who used to play saxophone and trombone.

“My family is kind of musical. They don’t want me to play, though,” he said.

Stan Freese, talent casting director at Disneyland, will direct the group, which will have its first rehearsal Jan. 11 at Kraemer Middle School. The band will meet every Thursday evening for practices.

Maertzweiler said the band would cost the city $4,000 a year at most. That budget would include a small stipend for the music director and money to buy more instruments and music sheets.

For now, the band is borrowing music material from the city of Anaheim, which used to have such a group.

Applications for the newly formed Community Concert Band are available at the Community Services Office, 401 E. Chapman Ave. The city, which has already received more than two dozen applications, is looking for about 50 members.

“We’ve got a lot of challenges,” Maertzweiler said. “Besides forming the band, this is [Placentia’s] 75th anniversary. There’s a little more pressure.”

The band is expected to perform patriotic music, show tunes and contemporary pieces in Placentia’s Heritage Day Parade in October, local Veterans Day and Fourth of July civic events, and perhaps start Sunday afternoon concerts in parks.

“As we develop our reputation, we’re going to go out and approach service organizations,” Maertzweiler said. “And they can write a check to the city and earmark it for the band. It’s a win-win for the city.”

Information: (714) 993-8232.