The Rockford Christian Fellowship Bandobserves its 30th anniversary with a concert at 4 P.M. this Sunday, May 17, at First Evangelical Covenant Church in Rockford. The group calls itself a “Community Concert Band with a Christian Ministry.
It’s a Tuesday night rehearsal at First Evangelical Covenant Church in Rockford, and the members of the Rockford Christian Fellowship Band are warming up.
Fred Hubbell founded the all-volunteer band in 1985, inspired by a similar group in Chicago. Then Hubbell fell ill in 2001, and George Strombeck took over as director. Strombeck says he came to Rockford after retiring as director of instrumental music at Trinity College in Deerfield to be near his grandchildren. But he had played in the Chicago Christian Fellowship Band, and welcomed the opportunity to be a part of one like it in Rockford.
Strombeck says the draw for him, and many members of the band, is that it’s not your usual community band.
“Instead of giving a concert in a designated auditorium, we go to the people. And because we are a Christian fellowship band, we like to go to where we can serve our Lord. We really believe strongly that we have a message than we can deliver with our instruments. So we bring our concert to nursing homes, rescue mission in Rockford. Of course we play in several churches.”
And even the mall, at Christmastime.
Karl Burdick joined the band early on. He says he hadn’t done much with his horn since his days with the Michigan State marching band.
“This was an opportunity to take it up again and see what we could do. Plus with it being a Christian organization - that kind of fit my goals a little bit, too. We like making a joyful noise out there.”
Other members of the band seem to agree. Becky Grimes is a retired music teacher who started on flute, but now plays tuba in the band. She says the best part is going to the nursing homes.
“We see their little feet, you know, going up and down to the music. Or you don’t think they’re paying attention, and you see their mouths moving. And you get really choked up. But it’s music that keeps these people going. They start singing the olds songs and it’s wonderful.”
Trumpeter Kevin Bergdall joined in 2006 as something to do with his son. The son moved away for work, but Bergdall stayed.
“I appreciate the opportunity to play my instrument for a reason, and take the message of Christ and the gospel songs and hymns. To me, it’s like a ministry to the Lord.”
Strombeck says the band is always looking for new members. Like many a volunteer group, getting the numbers, and a balance of instruments, can be a challenge. Some of the members have to travel a good distance, or have family or health issues to deal with. But, Strombeck says, he thinks the band will continue because there are, and will be, people out there who want to do something that they can enjoy, and that they can believe in.
