2003
Year in Review
The Tinley Park Community Band News
Your independent source for information about the Arts Alive bands.
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BAND SELECTED TO ATTEND WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL DEDICATION

The band was selected to represent the State of Illinois at events surrounding the dedication of the National World War II Memorial. Read about in this reprint of an article from the November 24, 2003 Daily Southtown newspaper:

Tinley band to play in D.C.

Monday, November 24, 2003

By Patrick Ferrell
Special to the Daily Southtown

The Tinley Park Arts Alive Band may be the only one representing Illinois at next year's National World War II memorial dedication in Washington, D.C., but director Steve Platko is anticipating the experience more than the distinction.

"It will be a moving experience," Platko said. "Washington, D.C., is a wonderful place which is full of history. There are going to be thousands of veterans there to celebrate the memorial."

More than 30 of the band's 55 members will travel to the nation's capital for the Memorial Day weekend to perform during the dedication.

The band also has tentatively scheduled concerts at the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, Platko said.

The National World War II memorial was commissioned by Congress in 1993 and was constructed in 2001, according to the memorial's Web site.

"We figure this will be such a monumental tour," Platko said of the trip. "To be able to perform there on that day is quite a memorable thing."

The band applied for the honor after receiving an invitation from Music Celebrations Inc., a company hired by the U.S. Park Service to coordinate entertainment for the dedication, Platko said.

The Arts Alive Band, which is underwritten by the Tinley Park Park District and performs in local concerts, likely was chosen because of its experience playing in Tinley Park's sister city of Büdingen, Germany, in 1996 and 2000, Platko said.

To help fund the trip, which will cost about $1,000 per person, the band is selling musically-themed cookbooks. It also will use proceeds from its sixth annual spaghetti dinner.

In early December, the band's first compact disc, titled "American Band Classics," will be available for purchase, Platko said.

"It's a monumental undertaking to get this trip off the ground," he said. "The park district obviously can't underwrite the cost of a trip like this."

DISAPPOINTED BAND CANCELS 2004 TRIP TO GERMANY

TINLEY PARK, IL -- A disappointed “Arts Alive!” Band director Steve Platko has announced that the band will not be able to participate in the 2004 Sister Cities exchange between Tinley Park and Büdingen, Germany. The scheduled dates of the 2004 exchange takes place before the close of the U.S. school year. Many of our members are teachers and educational professionals who would not be able to get time away from work, giving the band a significant instrumentation problem.

Director Steve Platko has contacted Tinley Park Mayor Ed Zabrocki, the Sister Cities Committee and our sponsoring organization about the band's decision. The news was met with disappointment, but understanding.


2003 SPAGHETTI DINNER A SUCCESS

TINLEY PARK, IL - The band's fifth annual Spaghetti Dinner was held Sunday, November 16 at the American Legion Hall in Tinley Park and set records for attendance and money raised.

We thank the band members and friends of the band who volunteered their services along with providing meatballs and desserts.

We also thank the area businesses that sponsored the dinner and made generous donations of supplies and prizes:

  • American Legion Post #615
  • Salina's
  • Ed and Joe's
  • Aurelio's
  • Turano's
  • Tinley Park-Park District
  • Isabella's
  • Salon Evangelos
  • Professional Hair Services
  • Traverso's
  • Family Home Video
  • Wheatfield's Restaurant
  • Sam and Jake's Ice Cream
  • Heather Haus Florist
  • Teina's Touch
  • Jewel
  • Golden Bowl Restaurant
  • Culver's
  • Ace Hardware
  • Heaven's Flowers
  • Damon's
  • Steak and Shake
  • Olympic Star Restaurant
  • Wal-Mart
  • Corey Brothers II Bakery
  • Oberweiss
  • Fresh Starts Restaurant
  • Victor J. Andrew High School
  • Bremen High School
  • Oak Forest High School
  • Carl Sandburg High School
  • Tinley Park High School
  • The Underground Nail Spa
  • Comcast
  • Bettenhausen Dodge

Also special thanks go to the small ensembles and soloists who performed. Thanks again to Drew for his piano playing and being the accompanist for our soloist.

And finally a big “thank you” goes to the our friends and families for coming out and supporting us. Without you, this wouldn't be possible.

BAND, JAZZ BAND PLAY AT TINLEY'S FIRST EVER FALL PARADE AND FINE ARTS FESTIVAL

TINLEY PARK, IL - Thank you to all who participated on the float and in jazz band at the first-ever Fine Arts Festival and Parade.

Special thanks go out to The float decorating committee, who did a fabulous job. See the photos at our full Fine Arts Festival report.

A TRIBUTE TO DON KRAMER

Information provided by
Terry Elliot

Donald Kramer, member of the Tinley Park “Arts Alive!” Community band for many years, passed away due to an illness on June 27, 2003.

Don was a gifted musician and enjoyed sharing his talents with us in any capacity. Don had a diverse background in music teaching and performance. His performance skills encompassed the entire clarinet and saxophone family of instruments as well as the flute and bassoon.

Don received his Bachelor of Music degree from Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas, and taught in Catholic schools in Salina, Kansas. After he earned a Master of Music in Applied Clarinet degree from Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas, he accepted a position as Instrumental Music Faculty/ Band Director/Humanities Instructor at Thornton Community College (now South Suburban College of Cook County, South Holland, Ill.), retiring in 1997. While a full-time faculty member, he conducted the SSC wind and jazz ensembles and introduced a course entitled “Music in a Contemporary American Society.” He was also an adjunct professor at Governors State University, University Park, Ill., where he conducted the jazz band and gave private-applied clarinet lessons. In 1992, he was selected by SSC to teach a semester at Canterbury Christ Church College in Canterbury, England. He also was a recitalist and directed the saxophone ensemble while at Canterbury.

While an enthusiastic teacher, Don was never happier then when he walked out the door with at least one instrument in tow to play a gig. Over the course of his career, Don had the opportunity to play with bands that backed up celebrities such as Bob Hope, Carol Channing, Rich Little and Patti Page. He has been in bands that have accompanied many of the Lawrence Welk stars such as Joe Feeney, Bobby Burgess, Dick Dale, Rocky Rockwell and Myron Floren. Don performed at Ravinia with the Tex Benecke Orchestra and was also a featured soloist at the Dominick Argento Festival, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana. He also headed up his own Dixieland group. .

After retiring from full-time teaching, he had the opportunity to pursue his love of performance to the fullest with various ensembles, including symphony orchestras, big bands, dance bands and chamber ensembles. Don played in ballroom bands such as the Steve Cooper and Steve Anthony orchestras, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra when in the area, the Kankakee Symphony, the South Suburban Woodwind Quintet, and other ensembles. He also has headed up his own Dixieland group.

Don was part of our Germany tour in 2000. At one of the concerts he played a solo and received a standing ovation from the crowd and chants of “Don-Don-Don” from the band members. He was a good friend and a pleasure to play and perform with. He will be missed by all of us. Don never gave up his love of learning and his discipline for music.

IN MEMORIAM

The Band also extends its deepest sympathies to the family of Dick Polk, who passed away in 2003. Both Don and Dick were members of the clarinet section and their talent and company will be greatly missed.

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