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JOIN THE SONOMA HOMETOWN BAND
For many years, 38 to be exact, the
Sonoma Hometown Band and the mysterious Other Town Band have coexisted as two
marching bands entertaining the crowds at the annual Fourth of July Parade at
the Sonoma Plaza. What is this mysterious Other Town
Band? The Other Town Band is made up of many musicians who grew up in Sonoma and
come back to play in the Fourth of July Parade as well as many others. But
here's the secret. The Other Town Band and the Sonoma Hometown Band are the same
Musicians! Many years ago, when the Sonoma
Fourth of July Parade was small, the organizers wanted another band. So the
Other Town Band was born. But the Other Town Band had to be different. So, after
the Sonoma Hometown Band marched around the Plaza, they quickly changed into
funny, and often patriotic, garb and marched around the Plaza again. The Other
Town Band even has its own banner. A tradition was born. To this day,
the Sonoma Hometown Band first marches one time around the Plaza, to be followed
the next time around the Plaza by the Other Town Band. Legend has it that the
judges actually awarded the first place prize to the Other Town Band and second
place prize to the Sonoma Hometown Band on one occasion. Here's another secret. Anyone can
join the bands. In fact, the band needs you. If you have ever played an
instrument at whatever level, the band would welcome your participation at the
Fourth of July Parade and other concerts. Some participants hadn't played an
instrument for more than thirty-five years when they joined the band. So dust
off your forgotten instruments and come join us! The Sonoma Hometown Band also plays
other concerts including two or three concerts at the Sebastiani Theater during
the year and the Salute to the Arts in August in the Sonoma Plaza.
The Sonoma Hometown Band has a long
and illustrious history of providing music in the Sonoma Valley. A picture of
the Band in 1848 is prominent in the Toscano Hotel Museum in the Sonoma Town
Square. The current Hometown Band was formed in 1967. If you are interested, the band
director, Richard Schneider, would welcome your call. His phone number is (707)
996-3413. Or call the President of the Band, Mary Wimberley, phone number (707) 253-5168. Click here to see maps to our
rehearsal site- the Sonoma Develpmental Center, McDougal
Hall.