HISTORY OF THE DELAWARE VALLEY SYMPHONIC BAND

In 1974, Dr. Bonnie L. Strang was contacted by an organization headquartered in Nebraska which had heard of her many accomplishments with her various band organizations. This group, American Youth Symphony and Chorus, asked Bonnie to assemble a symphonic band which would then go on tour to foreign countries to spread American goodwill abroad. After careful thought, she decided to take on this tremendous challenge and the Delaware Valley Symphonic Band was born.

Tours were taken on a three-year cycle ('75, '78, '81, '84, '87, '90). Those groups traveled to France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Italy, England, Scotland, Wales, Liechtenstein, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and finally, ten years later, a tour to another continent and the country of Australia! Years of preparation have gone into these tours and the rewards have been great for all connected with these groups. On previous tours, band members have spent several days living with families in Holland, Scotland and Wales. The home stays offer a unique personal experience and an excellent way to see the lifestyle of the country from a non-touristic point of view.

Along the way, the group has been showered with many awards and accolades. The have received the George Washington Gold Medal of Honor from the Valley Forge Foundation four times, a citation and personal letter from President Ronald Reagan, as well as citations from Pennsylvania Governors Thornberg and Casey, Mayor Greene, Thatcher Longstreth, Bob Edgar, F. Joseph Loeper, the Senate of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Council of Delaware County, Board of Commissioners of the Township of Haverford, the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, and several congressional citations and awards. The DVSB was honored to be the guests of the U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland, Faith Whittlesey, at her residence in Bern during the 1987 tour. We are pleased to be associated with such a merit worthy group.

The DVSB has performed with several local bands from the area of the countries visited: the German bands in Austria and Germany, the brass bands in The Netherlands, and The Royal Australia Air Force Air Command Band in 2000.

With the 1987 DVSB Tour of Europe, we began a new phase of enrichment involved directly with the musical aspect of the tour. Claude T. Smith, composer-conductor of world-wide acclaim, was commissioned to write a work especially for the Delaware Valley Symphonic Band. Introduction and Caccia had its premiere performance in the United States at Rose Tree Park. Dr. Smith conducted it and several other of his compositions throughout the tour of Europe. We were proud to announce that James Swearingen, one of the most popular of the contemporary writers, was commissioned to write Celebration and Dance for us on the 1990 tour. He rehearsed and conducted his compositions in the United States and abroad. We were pleased to have Pamela Smith, Claude Smith's daughter, join us as guest conductor during the 1990 tour conducting the music her father had composed. During the 2000 tour of Australia, the band had the privilege of sitting in the rehearsal with the Royal Air Command Band. They also attended a special clinic for the RAAF Band on the music of Percy Grainger that has conducted by the renowned authority of Grainger's compositions, Tim Reynish. Mr. Reynish was flown in from England for the special occasion.

With the 2000 tour of Australia, we embarked on a totally new experience - a tour almost around the world. We were so excited to experience the uniqueness of Australia - the 2000 Olympics, the opera house, the wildlife parks with their unique animals, the blue mountains, the rainforest, and, of course, the Great Barrier Reef. We found so many of the wonderful, kind, friendly people that we have heard so much about.

The 2000 Tour of Australia was the first time the Delaware Valley Stage Band would perform as a jazz big band playing a variety of musical styles. The ages of the students ranged from to (sixth grade through two years of university level). Several adults were also performing with the DVSB, including one father son combination - the MacArthurs. There were three university students who performed with us as featured soloists. The musicians were the best in the state of Pennsylvania at some time during their careers. Several previous DVSB members joined the tour, one arriving all the way from the midwest. Also featured were two small combos and the trumpet section.

Preparing to go to on any of the DVSB tours took many hours of hard work on every one's part. Not only did we have to practice and learn very difficult music, we had an extensive, in-depth educational program to complete. This program involved lectures, guest speakers, slide presentations, videos of the Australian 2000 New Year celebration, projects to be prepared, studying to be done, and reports to write -- just to name a few things. We learned about art, literature, music, geography, history, and cultures of all the countries visited. We studied monetary exchanges, topography, and how to pack. Demonstrations were given on washing clothes, taking good photos, and what kind of souvenirs to purchase. In short, we were thoroughly prepared for what was ahead of us on our trip so that we will be in a better position to appreciate what we will see as well as what we have here in this country. Each student was required to keep a notebook on the educational offerings at each practice. We also had to complete a project on some aspect of a country visited - history, climate, people, geography. Some of the projects included scale models of various buildings and architecture that we will see, topographical maps, book reports, food recipes and preparation, posters, student lectures, and a host of other items to numerous to mention. Much useful information was also presented on traveling in general such as what to do if you are lost in a strange city, electric appliance conversions, and passport and customs information. We sometimes complained about having to absorb about having so much information, but we now know how useful that information has been, and will be, to ensure a successful tour.

We thank all the parents for their support in sending their child on a tour. We thank all of the parents who spent so much of their time at the rehearsals doing all the behind-the-scenes preparation that was necessary for a successful tour. Finally, we thank Dr. Strang for being so particular about details that will enable us to enjoy the trip even more.

back to dvsb.org home page