Clarinet Quartet Entertains Crowd at Memorial Day Tribute

MONTGOMERY, TX -- The Montgomery Community Band’s Clarinet Quartet held a Memorial Day Tribute this past Friday at the School of Live Music, located at 107 Old River Road in Montgomery. Since forming in January 2023, the band has been entertaining citizens in and around Montgomery, as well as parts unknown in Montgomery County, as part of an over 80 piece band, or in single instrument quartets, to happy and smiling faces who enjoy live music. The Memorial Day Tribute to Our Nation’s Fallen also included a Salute to Veterans in attendance, and allowed all to admire the music and fellowship with each other, while remembering the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen who gave their so that we all can remain Free as a Nation.

The event was hosted by School of Live Music owner, Moree Simon, whose musical learning institution has blossomed from just a center of live voice and instrumental music, to one of art, comedy, public speaking, and other events. The Clarinet Quartet, consisted of Jeanette Gentry, Keith Robertson, Carrie Schindler and Tina Ponikvar, who plays the bass clarinet (which plays an octave below the clarinet adding for variety in the musical pieces played).

“We’ve done a Mardi Gras theme at Worthington Manor,” said Gentry, who also teaches clarinet at the school. “As well as Christmas and Halloween themed outings at retirement communities and other locations.”

Single instrument clarinet quartets are different from normal performances with bands having an assortment of different instruments, and are commonly played with clarinet or stringed instruments. And the clarinetists were up for the challenge, giving enjoyment of the music played to the audience, while improving their craft learned as elementary school students all the way up to college students, then living real life and coming back to the music when the Montgomery Community Band was formed last year. And each had a special memory with the clarinet.

“My first clarinet lesson was on the day that President Kennedy was assassinated. I was nine years old,” said Keith Robertson, who was born and raised in New Jersey. “My teacher had been called out of the music room. And we were all sent home soon after.”

The band is led by director Adam Haskett, an East Texas born man of music, who has been flooded out many times. He currently resides in Conroe. Haskett recently took the helm as Conductor, and played a light accompaniment to the quartet on a drum during the performances.

“I went to Lamar University for Music Education,” said Haskett, who works for an aviation management firm. “I was asked to be Music Director when Todd Burrer stood down, and its been a blast ever since.”

The performance was an extremely heartfelt tribute to the men and women who gave their lives while fighting to keep America Free, and included such favorites as: The Star Spangled Banner, My Country tis of Thee, American the Beautiful, Grand Ole Flag, Yankee Doodle, Amazing Grace, Washington Post, and God Bless America. Just listening to the selections stirred many memories of childhood, summer holidays, remembering The Fallen, the Birth of Our Nation, and the gratitude for the Service of Veterans and First Responders.

Moree Simon, introduced the Veterans in attendance, with each giving a little history of their time in service, where they served, and the conflicts in which they participated. They also were asked to remember family and friends who served in the Armed Forces and have since passed away.

“I grew up with a musical dad who bought me a piano when I was very young,” said Simon. She tried all the extracurricular activities young girls did, but stuck with the piano, which supported her accompanying voice. “I was in a school band, and afterwards taught my friends how to play the piano. I love to teach and incorporated my passion into the School of Live Music.”

Simon’s original vision for her establishment has morphed from music lessons by day, but to evening venues with student musical and guest performances. The evening events also include stand up comedy, game shows, singer/songwriter performances, as well as lessons in comedy and comedy improv. And it will probably still grow from that.

“Music was a very important part of my father’s life,” said Judy Suan, whose father was a WWII Veteran. “It was very uplifting today, and when the audience sang along it was happy tears for me.”

It’s amazing how you can get such a variety of different sounds out of 3 clarinets and a bass clarinet. The quartet worked well in expressing the clarinet, and its importance as a stand alone instrument, and the beautiful music that it can make on its own, separate from a band or symphony orchestra. The Montgomery Community Band and The Clarinet Quartet have come a long way since their formation 18 months ago. The Quartet’s performance in Honor of Our Nation’s Fallen, shows their commitment and passion to their craft, and their willingness to volunteer their time to perform helps show Love of Country to the community, and an Honor in being an American citizen.

“We just wanted to come and support the community,” said Jennifer Stewart, from Conroe, who was attending with her father. “It was an awesome tribute with all the wonderful songs.”

The Montgomery Community Bands website is: mcb-tx.org The School of Live Music’s website is: schooloflivemusic.com