Turning down the music

The Cape Girardeau Municipal Band has operated on city tax dollars since 1927. But that's changing as some city council members question spending $25,000 a year on a summertime band when the city is struggling to fund basic services like police and fire protection.

The city council voted unanimously this month to cut $2,000 out of the band's budget, which would reduce the number of band concerts from 14 to 13.

Mayor Jay Knudtson suggested the band in the future might have to seek "alternate sources of funding" such as corporate sponsors to underwrite perhaps half of its concerts.

"They need to be creative in the way they are running their operation," he said of the band.

Knudtson said there's no incentive for the band to seek private dollars unless the city reduces its budget for the band.

Councilman Charlie Herbst said he isn't looking to make more cuts in funding the band. But he said funding for the band could be cut more if voters don't approve a quarter-cent fire sales tax in June to help fund fire and police department operations.

"I don't think anything is sacred at this point," he said.

Councilman Matt Hopkins said if the fire tax doesn't pass, the council will have to look at cutting more spending for a lot of services, including the band.

Councilman Jay Purcell said his father-in-law plays in the band, but the band isn't an "essential service."

Purcell said he would like to see the city council develop a three- to five-year plan to "slowly allow" the band to secure private funding to pay at least part of the cost.

Councilman Hugh White said he believes the band could secure some private funding. But how much money the band might be able to raise is open to question.

Councilwoman Marcia Ritter repeatedly has said the council must look to fund public safety operations even at the expense of cutting other services.

But Councilwoman Evelyn Boardman cautions against cutting city funding for the band too much.

"It is a wonderful tradition, and I hope we could find a way to keep the municipal band," she said. "I think music and art are the civilizing factors in our lives."

The band, she said, provides the public with a chance to hear free, weekly outdoor concerts. The Wednesday night concerts at the Capaha Park Bandshell -- built with money raised by band members and dedicated in 1957 -- regularly draw 250 to 400 people who bring lawn chairs or sit on blankets to enjoy an hour of music.

"It is the only exposure that some people have to concerts," Boardman said.

Longtime trumpet player and banker Narvol Randol, who currently is president of the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band, said he and other band members understand the city is in a budget battle.

Randol said he and the rest of the band members are willing to explore ways to generate private funds. Band director Ronald Nall and Randol plan to meet with the council March 15 during a study session.

But Randol, who has played in the band for more than 30 years dating back to when he was in high school, said he would hate to see the city drop its sponsorship.

Musical roots

Randol and trombone player Dr. Dan Cotner, a Cape Girardeau dentist who has performed with the band for 63 years, said the Mississippi River city has a rich municipal band tradition that dates back more than a century.

The band's roots extend back to 1900 when Capt. C.F. Schuchert started a town band so men in the community could play an instrument as a hobby for picnics and public gatherings within a 50-mile radius of the city.

The original band had 12 members and was called Schuchert's Coronet Band.

In 1910, Dr. Clarence Schuchert succeeded his father as director, changing the name to Schuchert's Concert Band.

In 1917, the entire 40-member band was mustered into the Army to fight in World War I. After three months, the older men in the unit were sent home.

Those too young or too old for military service started the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band, playing weekly during the war at Common Pleas Courthouse Park.

In 1927, Schuchert helped push through a state law that allowed cities in Missouri to levy a property tax to support town bands.

Armed with a small tax levy, the city began helping to pay the band's expenses in 1927, providing the members with small payments for their services.

Cotner remembers when he and his fellow musicians performed regularly at the Common Pleas Courthouse Park. The band rehearsed in the nearby courthouse courtroom. "We used to sit in the witness chairs and play on and on," he said.

Funding question

The band's funding from the city has been debated before.

In 1964, some residents sought to scrap what was then a 3-cent property tax that raised nearly $12,000 annually to fund the band.

A band tax, however, remained on the books as late as 1969. At that time, the tax amounted to 1.3 cents per $100 assessed valuation.

By 1970 the tax had disappeared. Cotner said the tax expired because of a change in the city's classification. The 1970 census put Cape Girardeau's population at over 31,000, making it too large to levy the tax under state law.

The city, however, has continued funding the band with money from its parks and recreation budget.

Long a male-only establishment, the band took on women members in the 1970s.

Randol said the band has cut costs over the years by limiting the size -- it now numbers about 40 musicians -- and choosing to dress in white polo shirts rather than spending money on expensive uniforms.

The band members perform as a hobby, Randol said. They include businessmen, school teachers, college professors and high school and college students. He said the band gives student members an opportunity to polish their skills.

The band brings in special entertainment such as local singers for each concert.

Paid positions

Salaries for the band conductor and band members total about $22,000 each summer. Adult band members are paid $40 a week during the concert season.

College and high school students make up about half of the band. High school students, who make up about a fourth of the band, are paid $20 a week.

Band members rehearse inside the bandshell on Monday nights and perform Wednesday nights on the outdoor stage. Band members have to attend both the rehearsal and the concert to get their weekly pay, Randol said.

Band members don't feel they are overpaid.

"A professional musician gets $50 to $100 an hour," Randol said.

Band members use their own instruments, except in the case of some of the drums owned by the band.

Cotner and Randol said members of the band also perform from time to time at various civic events throughout the year at no charge.

Ronald Nall, a retired Central High School band director, has been conducting the band since 1992. He said the city money not only pays the band but also is used to maintain the bandshell and occasionally buy equipment.

Nall has been involved in the band for nearly 40 years. He played French horn in the band prior to taking over as director.

During the season, he said he spends six to eight hours a week selecting the music for each concert, organizing the rehearsals and conducting the concerts.

Band members spend about three hours a week rehearsing and performing.

Nall thinks the band probably would lose its student members if they weren't paid. "I think many of them consider it a part-time job," he said.

Nall said he and other veteran members of the band likely would consider giving up their band salaries temporarily.

"We understand there is a lot of belt tightening going on," he said.

The city council voted recently to suspend their own council salaries for a year to save the city $9,000.

Nall believes city funding is crucial for the long term future of the band.

"In the long run, if there is no funding," Nall said, "I think the thing would just fade away."

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123