We Are The American Legion Band Of Bethlehem
Proudly in our 74th concert season since being founded
About our Band
The band continues to support American Legion Post 379 in Bethlehem by performing at various Veteran’s observances throughout the year. In addition, the band has also performed at many State (14 times) and National American Legion Conventions (5 times). The band participated in the National Convention in Cincinnati, Baltimore and Chicago in 1986, 89 and 92 respectively.
About Our Founder
Ray Huston
About Our Founder
Ray Huston was born in Bethlehem, PA in 1922. he graduated from Liberty high school in 1939. In the fall of 1939, he entered the Ernest Williams school of Music in Brooklyn, graduating in 1942. While at the school he played under the leadership of Dr. Edwin Franko Goldman, Erik Leidzen, Ferde Grofe, Arthur Pryor, Percy Grainger, Morton Gould, and Herbert Clarke. Ray graduated from the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music in May 1948 with the degree Bachelor of Music, majoring in theory and arranging.
October 1942 found him answering his country’s call to arms entering the U.S. Navy. He served aboard the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. Yorktown for 29 months.
Huston organized and directed the American Legion Band of the Harry F.W Johnson Post No. 379 of Bethlehem, PA in April 1946 made up of all WWII veterans. He conducted the band for 66 years. After attending his first Yorktown Alumni Reunion in 2010, he was inspired to compose a Sousa-style march containing references to Anchors Away with sounds a military plane engines make warming up and bombs dropping. Several years earlier, he had composed WWII Memorial March which represented the five branches of service.
About Our Director
George Fennell
About Our Director
George Fennell has been the director of the American Legion Band of Bethlehem since 2014. He is a retired Pennsylvania State music educator who has directed bands, choirs and orchestras on the middle and high school levels.
He also leads the Lehigh Valley Pops Orchestra since 2004 and plays French horn with the Allentown Marine Band and the Covenant Brass Quintet.
He has studied conducting with Dr. Kenneth Raessler, Dr. Fredrick Fennell and William Smith of Indiana University, Bloomington. Mr. Fennell holds degrees from Gettysburg College and Temple University. You can also hear George on WDIY Classics every Monday morning at 88.1 FM.
Our Band Officers
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Personnel Director
Business Manager
Librarian
Member at Large
- Director
- George Fennell
- Flute/Piccolo
- Jean Rohal
- Nancy Bacak
- Milena Sudarikov
- Oboe
- Dave Heine
- Clarinet
- Tom Lambert
- Mary Pulanco
- Sarafina Schultheis
- Kathy LaRose
- Sharon Ault
- Linda Schlegel
- Alto Saxophone
- Leroy Johns
- Amelia Gamble
- Tenor Saxophone
- John Labarre
- Allison Weissman
- Baritone Saxophone
- Frank Strouse
- Cornet/Trumpet
- Olwen Bougher
- Bryan Gerhab
- Kim Tagg
- Anna Lazewski
- Don Kemmerer
- Grant Sedlock
- French Horn
- Steve Bueker
- Jim Roberts
- Nancy Beitel-Vessels
- Barbara Haver
- Trombone
- Michael Brown
- Ken Mease
- Tom Weidner
- Tom Somers
- Euphonium
- Ron Reed
- Fernando Ramirez
- Tuba
- Ron Lintner
- Percussion
- Nancy Fennell
- Steve Novak
Our Concert Schedule
- May 31 - Bethlehem Rose Garden - Cancelled
- June 12 - Bethlehem Rose Garden - Cancelled
- June 21 - Bethlehem Rose Garden - Cancelled
- July 26 - Bethlehem Rose Garden - Cancelled
- July 4 - Bethlehem City Center Fireworks - Cancelled
- July 17 - Bethlehem Rose Garden - Cancelled
- August 16 - Bernie Fritz Park, Memorial Ave, Bethlehem - Cancelled
- September 6 - Bernie Fritz Park, Memorial Ave, Bethlehem - Cancelled
