The Hollidaysburg Alumni Band was formed in 1953 by Elliott Treese ("The Chief"), who concurrently served as the Hollidaysburg Area High School Band Director and Director of the Alumni Band for over 30 years. The Band’s very first performance was at half-time for a homecoming football game, with only true HAHS Band alumni. Over the past 55 years, the Band has continued to flourish and now includes musicians from throughout the entire central PA region. To more accurately depict the diversity of its membership, the group has also been officially renamed the Hollidaysburg Community Band.

While the Canal Basin Band Shell is our home performance venue, the Band also performs for such occasions as community festivals, dedication ceremonies, nursing home and Veteran's home functions, as well as Altoona Curve baseball games, and the Hollidaysburg & Logan Valley Mall tree lighting ceremonies. Some of the Band's more prestigious performances include area concerts for former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge and for the then-campaigning presidential candidate George H. W. Bush, as well as a performance in front of the Lincoln Memorial, as the Pennsylvania Concert Band representative for the Festival of States, in recognition of the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

 Jack Sears, now retired from the Altoona Area School District, was the director for 18 years. His efforts were directly responsible for increased membership and a marked musical improvement over the years. Mr. Sears has arranged and written a number of pieces of music for the band, including our signature march, "The Canal Basin March."

 

Doug Stephens, Director

As a Penn State graduate (B.S. Music Education, 1995 & M.M. Wind Conducting, 2001), and the former Director of Bands for Hollidaysburg Area High School (1995-2005), Doug has a keen sense of appreciation for the important role our Band plays in providing an extra-curricular rehearsal/performance venue for local musicians. As a former Hollidaysburg Community Band Assistant Director and regular member of the percussion section, he feels extremely fortunate to have been entrusted with the tremendous responsibility of guiding the musical direction of this outstanding collection of fellow musicians, since the summer of 2008.

Membership in the Band only requires only a positive attitude and a willingness to have fun making great music. We rehearse primarily Tuesday evenings from 7- 9 p.m., at the Canal Basin, April through August. Please feel free to contact us for further inquiry regarding membership or to potentially schedule the Band for a performance.