Penn-Trafford Community Band plays on during pandemic, new shows planned

Despite the covid-19 pandemic, the Penn Trafford Community Band is rehearsing again and planning at least four concerts for August and September, while following social distancing guidelines, the band manager said.

The 65-member community band will play concerts at nursing homes and assisted living facilities, including one in Fox Chapel, said Ron Rometo, band manager and founder of the community band in 2008. Some of the venues will involve performances only by its jazz band and the band members will be several yards away from the elderly residents.

“I’m still pushing to get other venues, more local,” said Rometo, a retired Westinghouse Electric Corp. engineer and teacher at Westmoreland County Community College and the Community College of Allegheny County.

The band, which plays marches, patriotic tunes, movie and television themes, light jazz and pop, has been able to rehearse at the Level Green Community Building along Route 136 in Penn Township, Rometo said.

“We’re still maintaining their interest,” with the practices, Rometo said. The band took a break from performing and rehearsing when Westmoreland County was in the red phase of the state’s covid-19 restrictions.

Band director Doug Skoretz, a music instructor for the Allegheny Valley School District in Springdale, has limited the number of musicians at rehearsals to about 30, down from about 40, to allow for social distancing of more than 6 feet.

The Level Green building is spacious enough to allow for social distancing, Rometo said. As part of the efforts to prevent the spreading of covid-19, the performers’ temperature is taken when they enter the building and they are asked if they have been sick.

Skoretz, who also is director of the Penn Trafford Community Jazz Band, a separate organization, said the jazz band has practiced at the Penn Zion Lutheran Church parking lot in Harrison City, while observing social distancing.

“We encourage them to come (practice) without any fear. It’s a fellowship of developing music with each other,” Skoretz said.

A member of both the community band and jazz band, Patricia Blahovec of Penn Township, who plays alto sax, said she is thankful they have a place to perform.

“We are really, really fortunate. Most of the bands can’t play outside. Playing outside, that’s the best,” said Blahovec, one of the original members of the band.

One of the benefits of playing outside in the jazz band is that neighbors of the church have had a free concert, Blahovec said. A Facebook posting after one of the practices said how much they enjoyed the music, Blahovec said.

The concerts scheduled for August and September will be outdoors and will allow for social distancing. As a further precaution, the musicians are to bring their own chairs and music stands, Rometo said.

The band is scheduled to perform a free concert at 7 p.m. Aug. 14 at the pond at Penn Township Municipal Park in Harrison City. The open-air setting allows for social distancing, with people bringing their chairs or blankets.