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<< Previous   of   Next >> Suzanne Schmid / The Herald  (click to enlarge) French horn player Christopher Kapsalis performs a holiday concert with the Monroe Community Concert Band at First Presbyterian Church in Everett on Saturday. Most of the band members are musicians from years past who are now rekindling their passion for music. (click to enlarge) Doug Flager of Snohomish tunes his tuba in a back room at the church before taking the stage to perform Saturday.   ADVERTISEMENT   Hear songs from the holiday concert Click on the audio links to listen to the Monroe Community Concert Band perform songs at its holiday concert. Hanukkah medley Listen to the song Christmas medley Listen to the song   Related Stories • Audio slideshow: The Band Plays On 12/13/07   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Thursday, December 13, 2007 Music's in the hearts of Monroe band members Long after high school, band plays on By Yoshiaki Nohara, Herald Writer MONROE -- Once in a band, always in a band. Love for music brings Janice Peloquin of Marysville to Monroe every Thursday. Peloquin drives about 40 minutes to get to New Hope Fellowship, where the Monroe Community Concert Band practices. Peloquin, 54, takes her clarinet out of the case and starts to play. Then, music takes care of everything. It brings back happy memories of her days in the Arlington High School band: band trips she took, football games she attended and the best band friends she had. Music takes her away from her daily hassles. It makes her happy. "I loved the band. I loved the high school," said Peloquin, who raised two boys with her husband, Tom. The concert band provides a haven for parents, grandparents and young professionals, all volunteers. Weekly practice in Monroe draws about 40 players from Stanwood, Granite Falls, Snohomish, Marysville, Gold Bar, Everett, Duvall and Arlington. Sponsored by the Monroe Arts Council, the band started about three years ago as an outlet for adults who played instruments in school. After people step into the real world, many of them find it difficult to find the place and time to continue playing, said Bill Habetler, the band's director. Band members take their music seriously. They hold five or six concerts per year. "The atmosphere is hopefully laid back and low key," Habetler, 64, of Duvall said. "People come here because they want to play." The band has grown since its inception, but it still needs more members, Habetler said. "It's a voluntary thing," he said. "People get sick, and people have family commitments. Our biggest challenge is really the numbers, having enough people." Tom Connerton, 53, of Stanwood plays saxophone and has recruited members. "The door is always open," he said. "It's like riding a bike. I thought I couldn't do it again. Here I am doing it after 22 years in the Navy as an aviation storekeeper." The community band has its own strength. The musicians' maturity brings wisdom. They know how to laugh at their own mistakes and move on. They focus on process and don't dwell on results. The band held its holiday concert on Dec. 8 at the First Presbyterian Church in Everett. A few minutes before the concert was supposed to begin, about 30 players tested their instruments backstage. They didn't have enough time to get ready, but that was OK. "Let's walk out there and tell them we are not ready," Habetler said, drawing laughter. On the stage, they practiced a little bit and started playing "Christmas Festival." Then, the music took care of everything. Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com. Join the band The Monroe Community Concert Band practices at 7 p.m. on Thursdays at New Hope Fellowship, 1012 W. Main St., Monroe. The band's next practice is on Jan. 10. The band is open to anyone who wants to play music. For more information, contact Roger Walker at 360-691-5310 or e-mail monroeconcertband@gmail.com. Meet the band online An audio slide show and a few songs from the band's holiday concert, held Dec. 8, are available at www.heraldnet.com.

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