Now nearly 200 years old, Williamsport’s world-famous Repasz Band has announced a new Endowment Fund to help the group continue its popular slate of free local concerts.
“Never before has the band’s existence to continue been directly threatened,” says Repasz treasurer and past president Nancy Eischeid.
“Previous to COVID, our 10-18 concerts every summer provided more than enough funds to cover annual expenses,” explains Eischeid, who has played with the ensemble for more than 40 years. “Since then, our summer schedule has dwindled to less than half a dozen. Combine that loss of revenue with the new cost increases of playing at the Community Arts Center, plus our preparations for the band’s bicentennial, and we find our current funds will not sustain us.”
“An endowment fund is created as a base for the future of a non-profit organization,” adds Repasz director Jeff Dent. “The RBEF will establish a strong base for future projects, allowing us to expand programming and develop new levels of musical performances for our musicians and our audience members.”
While Repasz is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization, the group has considerable expenses to cover during any given year. These include rent for their rehearsal facility in Montgomery; purchase of sheet music and insurance; publicity for concerts; transportation of instruments and equipment; supplies for the office and library—and, adds Dent, “the major annual cost of renting the Williamsport Community Arts Center for our admission-free concerts each December and April.”
“Williamsport’s Repasz Band is a national, historic treasure,” says Eischeid. “The band’s participation goes back to the beginnings of the Civil War, eventually performing during Lee’s surrender at Appomattox in 1865 and again, at the 150th anniversary of that event in 2015; it also includes presidential inaugural parades of Taft and Teddy Roosevelt, plus dedications of Grant’s Tomb in both 1897 and 1997.
“In 2017, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission gave Repasz its own historical marker, which is near the Brandon Park Bandshell in Williamsport.”
Not only has the band performed numerous concerts at that locale—but also, they played there when it was first dedicated in 1913.
Suggesting that the endowment might best be called a “Band-Aid fund,” Eischeid urged music-lovers to send tax-deductible contributions to: Repasz Band, 117 West Hills Dr., Williamsport, PA 17701.
Happily, Eischeid observes, “The band recently received $126,500 to date, to jump-start our new endowment fund! We are fortunate to have long-time music enthusiasts who see the immense importance of this living local treasure.”
Dent adds that there are two other ways to offer financial support for Repasz: Concert sponsorship at three levels (Solo, $5000; Duet, $2500; Quartet $1500), as well as the upcoming Raise the Region event on March 12-13—which is in collaboration with First Community Foundation Partnership.
As Dent puts it: “Sustaining the future of our historic community band not only ensures funding for our upcoming 200th year and beyond, but also allows our 75-plus members to focus on performing and representing the City of Williamsport and our central Pennsylvania region in the world of community bands.”
More information is available at repaszband.org. Or contact Eischeid directly at repaszband1831@gmail.com.
