History
HISTORY OF THE LYRIC BAND OF HANOVER, PA., Inc.
The Lyric Band of Hanover, PA Inc. was organized in 1932 and held its first meeting and rehearsal, November 15 1932, with 16 musicians in attendance. The band’s first headquarters was in the Parkville Fire Co. hall.
In 1933, headquarters were moved to the former Melhorn building, now the site of the present Wachovia bank. In May of 1938, the band purchased its present headquarters, the former YMCA building at 20 York Street.
On April 19, 1939, the band was incorporated by the Courts of York County as a non-profit organization to be “A medium of instruction for the purpose of bettering all who are connected with it, both individually and collectively; and, further to promote a musically minded spirit in the community”.
The first musical director was Harry W. Swartzbaugh, who prior to becoming director of the Lyric, was director of the Hanover Opera House Orchestra and director of the Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias band. He served in this position for 23 years and then was succeeded by his son, Harry E. Swartzbaugh, a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of Music, who served as director until 1962, when he was succeeded by Bruce D. Wiser, a music major graduate from Lebanon Valley College. Bruce was conductor of the band until his retirement in 1982. The period from 1982 to 1990 Jeff Baker, Kevin Baum and James Hughes conducted the band.
In 1990, Edward G. Gobrecht Jr. was selected musical director of the band. Ed, or Goby as everyone called him, conducted the band until 2001 when he became Director Emeritus. Dr. Galen Leitzel was elected musical director at that time and is the present director. Dr. Leitzel holds degrees in Music from Susquehanna University, Ithaca College and Shenandoah University.
From 1934 through 1964, the band presented concerts on radio during the winter months, emanating directly from its own headquarters, over radio stations WORK-AM, WHVR-AM and WYCR-FM. Also, during this period of time concerts were performed at the Park Theater (formerly the Hanover Opera House), the State Theater and at the former Eichelberger Senior High School (now The Eichelberger Performing Arts Center) auditorium.
The band has participated in all of the community Memorial Day parades. The band has also given concerts in surrounding communities of the Hanover area. During its nearly 75 years of existence, the band has appeared in concerts and parades in 20 different towns and cities, as far north as Tower City, PA; east to Bryn Mawr, PA; south to Washington, DC: and as far west as Stauton, West Virginia.
Since 1969, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the band has presented concerts every Sunday evening on the shores of Lake Marbug, located in beautiful Codorus State Park five miles southeast of Hanover, PA. The band also presents a Spring Concert in April or May prior to the start of the summer concert season.
Guest artists who have appeared with the band in concerts over its span of operation include, Oscar Short, cornetist and William Cameron, harpist, both of the United States Navy Band; Rafael Mendez, internationally know cornetist; Don McCatherine, clarinetist and professor of music at Duquesne University; James Burke, cornetist from the Band of America; William Dupree, operatic tenor from the United States Air Force Band; Emerson Head, Professor of Trumpet at the University of Maryland; Col. Lesley Byron Shelburne, Jr., retired Commander & Conductor of the US Army Band, Washington, DC.
The band is also proud of the fact that there have been members of the band who have served in the military band career field either prior to their joining the Lyric band or who were members of the Lyric band prior to going into military band career field. Members of the Lyric band have served in the United States Air Force Band, Washington DC; United States Air Force Academy Band, Colorado Springs, CO; United States Navy Band, Washington, DC; United States Army Bands and US Marine Corp Bands.
The roster of the present band now numbers 70 musicians and carries the slogan of “Hanover’s Symphony in Brass”. The band also has several smaller musical units who perform as stand alone units for various functions throughout the area.
Mission Statement
The mission of the band is to be a means of outlet for those wishing to play music, and to be a medium of instruction for the purpose of bettering all who are connected with it, both individually and collectively, and to promote a musically minded spirit in the greater Hanover area.