Jack-of-All-Trades Musician Directs Chapel Concert Band

Don Amari has been playing the trumpet since he was 9. Now, at age 74, he’s conducting the Jackonsville Chapel Concert Band, a role that he has held since 1983. 

The concert band will be playing a variety of music on Thursday night when they continue the Montville Recreation Summer Concert Series.

“I started the band by putting up a notice for musicians wanted on the church bulletin board, and I had a lot of people inquire about playing,” Amari said.  “There were about 25 musicians that got together, and we sounded pretty good. The band has been going ever since then.”

The rotating members of the band, which can have as many as 55 and as few as 20 musicians, helps achieve exactly what Amari set out to do with the group.

“Our object is not so much to play beautiful music, but to have a place where a musician can sit down and play with other ones [musicians],” Amari said.  “In the end, we just want everyone to have fun while they are playing.”

The Jackonsville Chapel Concert Band averages 35 fun-seeking musicians playing a range of show tunes, marches, classical music and even some sacred music.

“Songs like ‘Amazing Grace’ used to be very simple,” Amari said.  “Now, you have these composers who have turned it into a very beautiful and elaborate piece of music to play. It’s really fun.”

The band, comprised of all volunteers, play in a lot of venues like nursing homes, churches and band concerts, all under the leadership of Amari. 

However, although the band is very disciplined in that all the musicians are expected to perform their best, one of the main ingredients of the band happened on a whim: Amari becoming the conductor.

“I never took any lessons or formal training for conducting,” Amari said. “One day, I just got up in front of the band, waved my wand and that was that.”                   

One of the reasons Amari was able to do that was because of confidence, one of the main ingredients needed to perform with the group.

“To play with us, you need to be able to read music, have confidence, and be able to try your best,” Amari said. “As a musician, you get better by playing with other musicians. As long as you are willing to perform with soul, you can play with us. A musician can never play well without soul.” 

The Jackonsville Chapel Concert Band will be performing on Thursday at the ampitheatre in the  from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.