In 1917, the late Dominic Greco
moved to
Dover
,
Ohio
from
Pittsburgh
,
Pennsylvania. Almost immediately after coming to
Dover, he formed the “Italian Band” to play for public functions in the
community.
After World War I, in 1919, he
expanded his musical organization into the “Dover Concert Band”, and
by 1926, the group – splendidly outfitted in dual-colored capes and
plumed hats – were well on their way to becoming a group with
state-wide reputation.
By the 1930’s, they had six
appearances at the Ohio State Fair to their credit, and then-Governor
Donahey, a
Tuscarawas
County
native, included himself in their formal portrait of the beplumed band.
One year they shared the State Fair program with the nationally known
John Phillip Sousa Band. While the Sousa Band was performing, members
were said to have played ill in order to hear the Dover Band.
Dominic Greco conducted the band for
nearly forty years. When he started, there were no slide trombones or
saxophone players permitted in the band. Those musicians in the
United States
who could play the French horn could be counted on one hand. Greco
actively recruited what he felt was needed and the musical organization
grew in both quality and prestige.
Harper Froman succeeded Greco as
director. After Froman, Robert Lyon became director of the band and Mr.
Lyon still plays woodwinds in the band. In 1973, the members voted to
change the name from Dover Concert Band to the Dominic Greco Band.
Frederick Delphia, the present
director, conducted the band from 1983 to 1990. The band took a short
intermission for about eleven years. The band has performed every summer
since 2001.
Under the direction of Delphia, the
musical organization follows the tradition of a wide, cosmopolitan
membership. Of the nearly seventy-five members, there are several area
high school band directors, college students, high school students, and
talented musicians from the business community.
Many of the musical arrangements
being played are on loan from the
Dover
and New Philadelphia
music departments.
To quote the late George Polce,
New Philadelphia
native and long time member of the brass section, “We owe our
continued existence and prosperity to many. There is actually a waiting
list and that should tell you about the band’s popularity.” Delphia
adds that “the old-fashioned concert in the park is still alive and
well in the Tuscarawas Valley
. We shall try every way possible to keep it that way.”
Today the band is a diverse group in
occupations and age. The ages of members range from 15 to 88 years. The
band is made up of about 80 people including high school and college students, salesmen, private
business owners, band directors, music teachers, choir directors,
classroom teachers, auto mechanics, a medical doctor, a psychologist,
graphic designers, homemakers, and retired people, just to name a few of
the occupations associated with this band.
DOMINIC
GRECO BAND
