As of Wednesday, July 17th, we must notify you that the Friday, July 19th concert by Medina Community Band has been cancelled due to extreme heat and humidity conditions forecast for that evening.  Our decision was based on the posted weather advisory by the Cleveland Ohio and National Weather Service! 

Site: Medina’s Uptown Park Square (intersections of Rts 18, 42, Broadway and Liberty Street). Cancellation of concerts due to the weather will be posted on the above website!

Medina Community Band will present the seventh concert of the 2019 summer season, a celebration of 160 years (since 1859) of presenting community concerts in Medina, on Friday, July 19, 2019, in Medina’s Uptown Park Square Gazebo.  Concerts will continue every Friday through Friday, July 26.  All concerts will begin at 8:30p.

Cancellation of concerts will be posted on the website as soon as the decision has been made.  A “fan newsletter” will be sent to those individuals who have signed up to receive the newsletter.

The concert is dedicated to the memory of Edwin Howard Robnett, longtime patron and friend of the band.  The ice cream social for July 12 will be sponsored by The Medina Lions Club.

Under the baton of Marcus Neiman, the band will perform Offenbach’s Overture to his opera La Belle Hélène;  Khachaturian’s Sabre Dance; and, Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals; with marches by Richards (Emblem of Unity); Klohr (Billboard); Fillmore (Rolling Thunder); and, John Philip Sousa (The Stars and Stripes Forever).  An encore performance of Howard’s Fly Me to the Moon will be presented in remembrance of man’s landing on the moon 50 years ago.

The featured soloist for the evening will be George Rosin, trombone soloist performing Guilmant’s Morceau Symphonique.

Concerts by the Medina Community Band traditionally last approximately one hour and are patterned after outdoor band concerts in the 1880s through 1930s and feature concert overtures, solos by instrumentalists and vocalists, as well as popular selections, and lots and lots of marches.  For listings of all concerts, visit the band’s website (www.medinacommunityband.org).

Area social and civic groups will be featured as summer social hosts providing light refreshments at a reasonable donation during each concert:  July 26 – Medina Creative Housing.

Marcus Neiman conducts Medina Community Band and will be joined in the conducting duties by John Connors (associate conductor) and Matthew Hastings (assistant conductor).

Medina Community Band is proudly sponsored and supported by the Medina Community Band Association, composed of members of Medina Community Band.  The board of directors consists of Lu Ann Gresh, president; Amy Muhl, vice president; Gail Sigmund, financial secretary; Karen Sater, treasurer; Sue McLaughlin, secretary; with directors John Connors, Dr. Thomas Kenat, Robert Moore, and Kristin Thompson. 

Membership in MCB is open and there are no dues or auditions; however, members are expected to maintain a regular attendance.  The band rehearses on Wednesday evening from 7p – 9p in the orchestra room of Medina High School (777 East Union Street, Medina) during June and July; and September through the end of May rehearsing in the band room of Highland Middle School (3880 Ridge Road, Medina).  The band also presents their popular summer series every Friday, June through July, in Medina’s Uptown Park Gazebo.  Each year the band presents at a winter concert, spring concert, and the popular “Sousa Concert” at EHOVE Career Center (Milan, OH).  For additional information on the 2019 concert season or Medina Community Band, contact Neiman at 330.725.8198 or MarcusNeiman@medinacommunityband.org.

Edwin Howard Robnett

June 29, 1927 – June 19, 2018

Edwin “Ed” was born in Millburn, New Jersey on June 29, 1927, to the late Edwin Howard Robnett, Sr. and Doris (Longnecker) Robnett. He was preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Jane (Cope) Robnett. He is survived by daughters, Susan Robnett Haider (Robert) of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Nancy Robnett Durban (Kerry) of Cincinnati, Ohio and grandchildren, Madeline Haider, Adelei Durban and Macrae Durban.

Upon graduation from Millburn Senior High School in Millburn, New Jersey, Ed enlisted in the Marine Corps to serve our Country near the end of World War II and later was recalled during the Korean War. After his service, he attended Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. He relocated to Northeast Ohio in the early 1950s with his bride, Jane, experiencing a long and successful industrial sales career in “plastics”.

Community involvement was important to Ed. He was a 38-year member of Medina Masonic Lodge #58, Medina Chapter #266 Order of the Eastern Star and Noble of the Al Koran Shrine. He was a long-time member of the Marine Corps League, Medina County Detachment No. 569, where he faithfully served on the firing squad for Military Funeral Honors at The Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman, Ohio – in all seasons. His passion for the Toys for Tots drives was well known. He worked a route across the county to collect toys until the year in which he could no longer drive.

Ed and Jane were long-time members of the United Church of Christ, Congregational and then the Medina Presbyterian Church. They were Medina HS band parents and supporters of activities their daughters participated in, including Medina County Band Concerts. The social, service and religious focus of these organizations was a special part of Ed’s every-day life.

One of Ed’s passions was classic cars. He usually had about three or more at a time. His favorites were a 1932 Model A pickup truck and a 1936 Ford sedan with original Washington Blue paint job and horsehair interior. Annually, the second week of October, he went to the Hershey, Pennsylvania car meet. The family never knew what he would come home with – parts for one of his cars or a new, old car.

Ed taught his daughters to work hard, not quit, be kind and loyal and not take themselves too seriously. His humor, bravery and love of family and community continues to be an inspiration.

A memorial service was held by the family at Western Reserve Masonic Community on June 29, 2018, on what would have been Ed’s 91st birthday. Ed was laid to rest next to his wife with Military Funeral Honors in a private burial surrounded by family at the Hollywood Memorial Park & Cemetery, Union, New Jersey.

Featured Soloist

George Rosin, trombone, is a self-employed attorney in Akron Ohio, with emphasis on employer representation in Workers Compensation matters.  Married to Diane and proud father of two future health care professionals, Rosin has a wide range of musical experience. He was a member of a Dixieland Band in high school; at Wittenberg University, he played with Wind Ensemble, Chet Bausch Big Band and Springfield Symphony Orchestra. Since then, he had a short stint with Blues/Rock Band (Grand Theft Auto), but mostly big band work – Night Coach, Jimmy Dorsey, Guy Lombardo, and Jazz Revival Orchestra.  Rosin is currently director of The Brass Choir at The Bath Church, lead trombone for the Hudson Community Chapel’s Holiday Musical Extravaganza, and a James Brown Tribute Band (The Real-Soul Pleaser, Robert T). He joined Medina Community Band in October of 2016. He is a member and past president of Akron Symphony Board. Music has been very, very good to me, he stated.

19 MCB Summer Program Notes – July 19th – as of 19 06 29