Get Out: JJC Concert Band Makes History with First Student to Conduct in the Spring Concert

The Joliet Community Concert Band has seen it’s fair share of students playing in the band. But never in its 32 years has one student set foot on the podium to direct the band in a concert setting. That has always been the job of current band director Charles Morgan or Jerry Lewis, retired director and founder of the band.

But, come Sunday, music history will be made at the band’s annual spring concert.

Paul Cepela will have the honor of being the first student in the band’s history to direct not one but two musical selections.

“I’m very happy to have the opportunity to do this,” Cepela said.

At the May 1 concert, Cepela will conduct the band in a march by John Philip Sousa titled “The Fairest of the Fair” and a modern piece titled “October” by Eric Whitacre.

This fall, Cepela approached Morgan about reconstructing a traditional music conducting class so that he could take it as an honor program. The conducting experience Cepela, a full-time JJC honor student, is receiving is more than he would be getting in a regular conducting class.

Part of the class required Cepela to select music from the band’s library that he would like the band to perform under his direction.  The only rule Morgan set was that one had to be a march and the other a lyrical piece. 

“It’s been great working with Chuck (Morgan),” Cepela said. “ I have had many people tell me frightening things about him. But they’re not true.”

Since Cepela was home-schooled from kindergarten to 12th grade, he never had the opportunity to work with a high school band director. He looks up to Morgan.

“He has been a great help in many ways," Cepela said. “He has made me want to be a band director.”

The concert begins at 3 p.m., Sunday. Tickets are $5 for adults; $4 for JJC faculty and staff, non-JJC students, and senior citizens; and $2 for JJC students. If you mention this article at time of ticket purchase and the JJC Fine Arts and Performing Department will give a discounted admission to the concert.

Music not your scene? 

Not to worry, there are plenty of other things to do this weekend.

Spring Cleaning

About 150 households in the Village of Channahon have been hard at work spring cleaning. It was not just timed to correspond with the spring flowers growing. Instead, it was to take advantage of the village-wide garage sales.

Village officials estimate it has been about 15 years since this tradition began.

Sales begin at 8 a.m. Thursday and continue through Saturday. The village has posted a map with locations and days open on its Web site.

Would you rather help clean up than go shopping? No problem. The neighboring village of Minooka has an event for you. The Minooka Clean-up day is 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday. After helping to clean-up, the village will buy you lunch. Call 815-467-2151 so they can have an accurate head count.