The Honeoye Falls
Community Concert Band was originally organized in 1988. Alan Hopkins, a local
volunteer fireman, called the high school band director, Mark Borden, for a list of people
that might be interested in forming a community band. Together they organized a
group of about a dozen people. These people met in the summer of 1988 in the
high school band room and began practicing together.
At this point, the group did not have a director identified.
Lindsey Simmonds (Borden) joined as a musician and was asked if she would direct the
group. She began doing so on the 4th rehearsal. The band practiced weekly and
grew to about twenty five members. They performed their first concert on October 2nd
in the newly built gazebo in Harry Allen Park.
The formation of this group was in keeping with a long history in
Honeoye Falls of community bands. The town has had a band in existence almost
continuously since the Civil War. These have included a brass band, The Honeoye
Falls Military Band and the Honeoye Falls Community Band (under the direction of William
Percival).
Today, the HFCCB has about 60 active members. The band rehearses
weekly 11 months out of the year and averages about 10 concerts. Regular fall,
winter and sprint concerts are performed in the HF-L district auditorium and the band
plays at the school's annual "Cougar Creations" festival. The band also
plays many concerts throughout surrounding counties and plays at least one charity concert
during the year.
The band members range in age from 14 to 80. Many different
occupations are represented including teachers, sales personnel, doctors and
students. Our one common denominator is our love of music and performing
for others.
