The Beginning of the Noank-Mystic Community Band 1978

by Barbara Shiffer 

The Noank-Mystic Community Band was born from an idea of two musicians, Karen Shultzman of Noank and Matt Kimball of Mystic. In reminiscing at Carson’s Store in Noank of their high school band days, they lamented that there was no place for adult musicians to play band music. So they decided to form a band. They advertised in the newspaper, asking any interested musicians “to bring their instruments and their music”. They hadn’t even thought of a conductor. Conductor? What did they need a conductor for? Somebody could get up and wave their arms around. One of these interested musicians, Gloria Shaefer, told Karen that she knew of someone who would be interested in conducting the new band. That someone was Robert Brule, Director of Cadet Bands at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

Music was borrowed, and the first rehearsal was held on a snowy night in January 1978 at Cutler Junior High in Mystic. Fifteen musicians showed up that first night, and they struggled to play through the “American Eagle” march. In fact, they couldn’t even get through the first three measures without stopping. But they kept trying. Bob Brule liked to tell the story later that he wondered what he had gotten himself into after that night - he felt like jumping off the Gold Star Bridge on his way home!

The size of the band continued to grow as word got around about the fledgling organization. Arthur Booth, Fitch Sr. High band director, became an ardent supporter, offering the use of the Fitch band facilities and music, as the NMCB did not have a music library of its own. It was a welcome offer, as the band had outgrown the smaller Cutler band room.

Finances were a problem, since meager amounts of money were available at first. Brule was often “paid “ for his services by means of a cord of wood, a dinner at the Seahorse Restaurant and other such creative means of payment. This was soon solved as “The Friends of the Band “, a fundraising support group from the community was formed and quickly began work on raising money by holding bake sales, dinner dances, and suppers. One of their projects was to raise money for the purchase of uniform jackets, although this never came to fruition. Unfortunately, the Friends of the Band lasted only a few years. Today the band relies on concert sponsorships, grants, patrons’ funds, and nominal membership dues to fund our budget, which includes paying conductor’s and librarian’s stipends, and purchasing new music, equipment, and insurance.

The band’s first performance was for the dedication of the Mystic Depot Railway Station in April 1978. Over the years the NMCB has performed throughout the southeastern Connecticut area. We have also performed at Battleship Cove in Fall River MA, the Berkshire Band Fest in Pittsfield MA, and several times at Quincy Market in Boston. The first “Holiday in Sound” was presented in December 1978 and became a holiday tradition. The band now spreads holiday cheer by performing at area nursing homes, churches, and senior living centers during the Christmas season.

Our defining concert of the year has always been on Independence Day on Main Street in Noank. In 1979, Karen Shultzman, drew on the old tradition of the 19th century Noank Brass Band’s lunchtime concerts at the Noank Shipyard. Back then, Jane Carson, of Carson’s Store, provided refreshments for the concertgoers on the 4th of July as the band set up in front of the store and performed. Today’s band sets up in Noank Park next to Carson's Store and provides free lemonade and cookies, continuing the tradition from 1979 to the present day. For several years, a chicken barbeque was held as a fundraiser in conjunction with the July 4th concert.

The Noank-Mystic Community Band has always looked for new and fun ways to bring our music to the public. A small group of band members play for the Noank Memorial Day parade; for some years they rode aboard the Mystic trolley. Children’s concerts have been a popular event. The band has hosted a community band from Germany who was on tour in the area. And in 2001, the band hosted an exchange concert with the Bloomfield Civic Band from New Jersey. We have also had joint concerts with the local Waterford Community Band and The Old Lyme Town Band. The band also provides music for graduation ceremonies for Grasso Tech and Three Rivers College.

One of the most popular events that the band hosts is the Summer Sounds concert series held in Mystic River Park in Mystic on Tuesday evenings in June, July and August. The series, which began in 1996, showcases all the local community bands in the perfect setting for a band concert.

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Two New Bands Formed

Noank-Mystic Community Band

This is the original concert band with a full range of instrumentation, now numbering about 45 musicians. Formed in 1978, the music is typically at an advanced high school/college level. The Noank-Mystic Community Band has had eight conductors:

  • Robert Brule (1978–1985)

  • Gregg Thaller (1986–1990) then Director of Music at Norwich Free Academy

  • Brian Sparks (1991–1992), principal alto saxophonist in the U.S. Coast Guard Band

  • Susan Johnston (1992–2007 and 2009–2017), Band Director at East Lyme High School

  • Adam Williamson (2007–2009), tenor saxophonist with the U.S. Coast Guard Band; Adam was later promoted to Director of the U.S. Coast Guard Band in 2013.

  • Chris Howard (2017–2020), clarinetist with the U.S. Coast Guard Band

  • Dr. Richard Wyman (2020–2021) retired Assistant Director of the U.S. Coast Guard Band

  • Jeffery Spenner became the conductor of the Noank-Mystic Community Band in 2022. Jeff is currently the Assistant Director of the U.S. Coast Guard Band, succeeding Rick Wyman in the position, and is also Orchestral Artistic Director of the Manchester Symphony Orchestra & Chorale.

As Time Goes By

The swing band As Time Goes By was formed in 2013 and became a part of the Noank Mystic Community Band in 2014. Our music includes many well-known songs from the swing era during the days of famous band leaders like Benny Goodman, Harry James, and Glenn Miller, just to name a few. Our music library also includes well-known tunes from famous jazz bands of more recent years such as Count Basie, Stan Kenton, and Woody Herman. Our mission is to provide great sounding big band music of the swing and jazz eras for listening and dancing for a variety of occasions throughout southeastern Connecticut. The band has had four conductors: Jose Cordero, Sean Nelson, Ray Poncin, and currently, Larry Shea.

The New Horizons Band of Southeastern Connecticut

The New Horizons Band of Southeastern Connecticut was formed in 2016 and became part of the Noank Mystic Community Band that year. It is inspired by and affiliated with the New Horizons International Music Association, dedicated to providing entry points to music-making for adults, including those with no musical experience, and those who were active in school music programs but have been inactive for a long period. The band has had two conductors; Robert Clowes, and currently Heidi Harmony Carrier.

All three bands are part of the Noank-Mystic Community Band, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization.