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BLUE KEY ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATES SIX DECADES
by Seth Bengelsdorf
Some 60 years ago the Port Chester Middle School created
a special organization and began bestowing a special
award on its best musicians. This June 13 the Blue Key
Society will celebrate its 60th anniversary
with a concert and dinner. Musicians from far and wide
will be retuning to the Middle School to celebrate, make
music and dine.
The concert will feature a new march created just for
the event by Captain Kenneth Force (US Coast Guard), who
is expected to attend. Blue Key members past and present
will perform the yet unnamed piece.
Blue Key originated as an idea by Paul Weckesser, former
director of the senior high school band, in 1936. In
1944, Archie Jacobs revived the Blue key in the Junior
High School (now the middle school). As the band
director, Mr. Jacobs continued as head of the
organization until 1965 when Frank Corda took over the
reigns. District Music coordinator Ken Kraut heads up
this year’s celebration.
The honorary society for talented instrumentalists
expects a large crowd. The last Blue Key celebration saw
more than 400 people at the concert and more than 300 at
the dinner. The Port Chester Middle School’s 7th
and 8th grade band will perform at the
concert, and will be joined by many Blue Key members who
will be coming from far and wide.
Dinner and the concert on Sunday, June 13 will cost $20
for adults, $15 for seniors and kids.
www.geocities.com/portchestermiddleschoolband
e-mail:
[email protected]
© 2003 Port Chester Middle School Band Association |
