About the Band

The Callanwolde Concert Band is an independent community concert band of adult musicians who decided not to give up music after graduating from school. Formed in 1972 as a summer program of the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, the band has operated as an independent non-profit corporation since 1984. The alliance with the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center continues in the form of formal concerts at the center and mutual support for a strong performing arts presence in the community. The band is known throughout Georgia for its high level of musicianship and audience appeal. This is music at and from the grass roots, made by your neighbors. Look closely - you may see your doctor, dentist, attorney and your air conditioning mechanic, all united to preserve and continue a great American tradition, the community band.

The band of today differs greatly from the band of 1972, but the spirit and appreciation for good music played well has continued and flourished as the band has matured into one of the finest ensembles of its type in the southeast.

Founded under the baton of Charles Bradley, famed director of the outstanding East Atlanta Elementary Band, the band continued with George Webster as director and temporarily paused operations in the summer of 1973.

In the fall of 1973, the remaining members decided that the band would continue and asked for a show of hands from anyone who had ever been a band director. One hand hesitantly went up and by unanimous vote of everyone else, he was told, "Clyde, you are our new conductor" and given absolutely no choice in the matter whatsoever. Clyde Bales had not "waved the stick" in about twenty years, and was making his living as a communications engineer. His music degree from LSU had rusted quietly except for playing percussion with the band for fun. He was, however, brave and willing to preside over our growth until 1985 when a job change transferred him away from Atlanta. This time we prepared for a formal conductor search, but fortunately did not have to look beyond our trumpet section. Since that time the podium has been occupied by Mr. Raymond Handfield.

O. Clyde Bales

Our Conductor, Raymond Handfield

Our Conductor and Music Director Mr Raymond Handfield, a life member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia honorary music fraternity, is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music (trumpet) where he was a student of Sidney Mear. His masters degree is from Boston University where he continued his trumpet study with Armando Ghitalla. He taught instrumental music and directed school bands in Massachusetts, New York and Georgia, retiring after a thirty year career. Mr Handfield has performed in concert with the Oslo, Norway Opera Orchestra. He served as principal trumpet with the Orchard Park Symphony Orchestra, New York where he also directed the youth orchestra and served on the board of directors. Mr. Handfield also served as prinicipal trumpet with the "Opera Sacre" of Buffalo, New York. In Georgia he served as assistant principal trumpet for the Callanwolde Concert band before taking the podium in 1985. Mr Handfield's other activities include an avid interest in duplicate bridge and a lifelong argument with the nearest available golf course.

Piccolo
Lee Marshall

Flute
Polly Hendricks, Principal
Lisa Brown
Laura Curtis
Lee Marshall
Cathe McKinnon
Kathryn Pierce
Lisa Vinokur-Tedoff

Oboe
Jean Kavanaugh, Principal

Clarinet
Mark A. Ozanick, Principal
Jim Downs
Mark Forbes
Linda Fountain
Sam Graiser
Sheldon Graiser
Richard Limbird
Jim Marchand
Graham Mobley
Tracy Morkin
Ron Penn
Glenn Schuffenhauer
Candice Tompkins

Bass Clarinet
John Anderson

Bassoon
Vicki Smith, Principal*

Alto Saxophone
Scott Lampert, Principal
Daniel Newman
Alex Thompson

Tenor Saxophone
David Smiley

Baritone Saxophone
John Patton

Trumpet
Gayle Eaker, Principal
Dottie Buchan
Scott Files†
Murray Johnson
Joe Peek
Bill Pulis
John Sunderland
Laura Zajac-Cox

French Horn
Bruce Evatt, Principal
Karen Geiseker
Sara Smith
Elizabeth White

Euphonium
Steve Rousseau, Principal
Tom Anderson

Trombone
Tim Heston
Jim Renfroe
Richard Schulman
Harold Smith

Bass Trombone
John Pooler
Bernard Tuvlin

Tuba
Mark Zickefoose,Principal
Bob Johnson
David Possein

Percussion
David McLaughlin, Principal
Warren Abrahams
Robert Meehan
Jack Shenk
Victoria Voll

Tympani
Robert Meehan, Principal†
Warren Abrahams

† Assistant Conductor
* Edward J. White Chair
** Henry Mason Chair