Band of the Hills started before the age of hashtags, “likes” and instant information—the group was created after founding member Michial Meyer responded to an advertisement in a local paper in 1998 to start a community band.
“Two of us answered the ad, and we had a meeting and started the band,” he said.
Band of the Hills is a wind and percussion ensemble composed of musicians from Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock, Pflugerville and the surrounding areas, and performances are free to the public. In May, the band is celebrating 20 years of bringing together volunteer musicians and helping the community. The band started with a group of 18 musicians, and that number climbed to 80 in 2018.
Meyer plays bass clarinet in the band and said that even though the group has increased in numbers, it has retained the feel of a small group of musicians who come together, play and most importantly, have fun.
“The group kind of feels like a family,” Meyer said. “We take care of each other.”
The band features a diverse collection of teachers, students, business owners, retirees and other people from various walks of life. During rehearsals held at Vista Ridge High School’s band hall, middle school-aged band members play alongside bandmates in their 80s.
Leander resident Sandra Debner joined the band when she moved back to Texas after 26 years of living in Minnesota.
“I love playing music, and I love playing with this band,” Debner said. “We’ve got some outstanding musicians in it, and it keeps us challenged.”
Seth Butler first joined the group six years ago as a junior at Vista Ridge.
“I’ve had a lot of great memories here,” Butler said. “It’s just really nice to remain here practicing in this band hall.”
Band of the Hills performs marching show tunes, big band songs and patriotic hymns at events such as the Texas Community Music Festival, the Cedar Park Public Library’s Fable Fest and the Cedar Park Bull’s Eye Bash. Member Terrell Webster estimated that the band has played 100 concerts since it began.
Meyer said that Band of the Hills has members who come from as far away as Buda, and it is the people that have kept the group going strong for 20 years.
“We’re doing something that we enjoy doing,” Meyer said. “We don’t have professional musicians. We have some people that are proficient at their instrument and some that want to get better at their instrument, and we help each other along.”
Band of the Hills P.O. Box 2024, Cedar Park 512-426-4270 www.bandofthehills.org
