Celebrating 25 Years: The Chaffee German Band's love of music and community

The Chaffee German Band is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, marking a significant milestone in local culture. Founded by a dedicated musician with more than 50 years of experience, the band has become a staple at local festivals and events.

The founder, Tim Cannon of Chaffee, played a variety of instruments such as the tuba, trombone and baritone, and began his musical journey at the age of 12. Cannon said he started the band to fill a need for German music in the community. Over the years, the band has grown and evolved, attracting musicians from various backgrounds.

“Me and a couple of friends, we like to play all kinds of music, and then Chaffee German Days, they needed some German music. So we started and there were probably six or seven of us playing at that time and it was fun, you know, it's supposed to be a fun time. Chaffee German Days have continued and we grew in numbers. One year, we had over 25 people playing at German Days,” Cannon said.

As the years passed, the band grew, to more than 25 members. Cannon said, along with community members from Chaffee, several musicians are band directors from the area and some who also play in the Cape Municipal Band.

The Chaffee German Band specializes in traditional German music, including polkas, waltzes and marches. Some of the sheet music is sourced directly from Germany, said Cannon, adding authenticity to their performances.

Cannon enjoys polkas, which is a type of German festival music.

“They are lively and happy, always a good time to play,” he said.

However, Cannon's favorite song the band plays is not a polka, but a waltz titled "Snow Waltz", saying it is a beautiful song that holds a special place in his heart.

The band regularly performs at events such as Chaffee German Days, Jackson Oktoberfest and Ste. Genevieve Oktoberfest. They have also played at private events such as birthday parties and reunions.

Despite the challenges of balancing volunteer commitments and performing in hot, sweaty conditions, the musicians find joy in playing and engaging with the community.

Cannon has recently been passing leadership duties to younger members, ensuring the band's continuity. One of these members is Ella Leible, a Chaffee band alumna who loves music.

“Ella has been helping out a lot.  She's probably the youngest one in the band and she's trying hard. She enjoys it, a lot of us in the band have German heritage and she's one of them,” Cannon said.

Leible has been in the Chaffee German band for seven years, since she was in the seventh grade. She said she decided to join not only to stay connected to the music scene but to learn more about her German heritage.

The band has a tradition of asking the members to dress in traditional German clothes for their concerts and Leible is all for this. She wears a Dirndl, a traditional German dress for women that consists of a fitted bodice, full shirt and apron, along with wearing braids and a flower crown in traditional German fashion.

“If you’re gonna do it, you gotta do it right,” Leible said.

The band plays a role in bringing people together and maintaining local traditions. The musicians perform without pay at Chaffee German Days, driven by their love for music and community engagement.

Looking ahead, the Chaffee German Band plans to continue performing at local festivals and events.  Leible hopes to stay with the band and find more festivals and events for the band to participate in around the area.

“I think it's important to have the band. It is a good reminder of why this is here, our German heritage. That's why German days were started,” Leible said. “I'm wanting to try and find more events around the area because there's a whole bunch of German events.”

The band invites the community to attend its upcoming performances, including the set at Chaffee German Days from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at Frisco Park.

Reflecting on the band's 25-year journey, Cannon expresses pride in the musicians and their dedication. He hopes the band will continue to bring joy and traditional German music to the community for many more years.

“I think once people hear it, they're kind of hooked on it. The players in the band, don't get paid for Chaffee German Days, it is volunteer work. It gets rough because we're playing for three hours, which is playing a lot and getting hot and sweaty.  But we do it because we love to play,” Cannon said about the band.