German Youth Band To Visit Les Cheneaux

The new 2006-2007 Les Cheneaux Lions Club Board, including (back row, from left) Gerry Geubert, Leroy Pieri, Joe Forrester, Jim Poppink, Gene Collins, R. B. Smith, Phil Milan, Herb Melcher; (front row) Jessica Maze, and Judy Izzard, with Past District 10 Governor Bob St. Peter, celebrate the installation of new officers. Board members John Torsky, Bob Fisher, Bill Kish, John Sullivan, and past president Ken Drenth are missing.

The Wertingen Youth Band, "Stadtkapelle Wertingen," of Wertingen, Germany, will visit the Les Cheneaux area Wednesday, August 2, through Saturday, August 5, as part of the Blue Lake International Exchange Program. While they are here, the Wertingen students will do some local sightseeing and treat the community to a free concert Friday, August 4, at 7 p.m. The public is welcome to attend the concert in the Les Cheneaux Community Schools' Old Gymnasium in Cedarville. Members of the 60-piece concert band will stay in private homes while visiting the area.

"Since its foundation in 1977, the band has exerted an active and stimulating force on the musical life of Bavaria," said Alan Jacobus, Les Cheneaux Community Schools music director. "In addition to local and regional concerts, the band has distinguished itself in many competitions."

The ensemble is comprised of young men and women who range in age from 14 to 20 years old.

The Wertingen Band is one of nearly a dozen European musical

groups that will visit Michigan during 2006, as part of Blue Lake's International Exchange Program.

Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake is best known for the camp it operates each summer. Nearly 5,000 talented young musicians, mostly from Michigan and other Midwestern states, are expected to attend Blue Lake this summer.

Several Cedarville High School students have attended Blue Lake over the years, and Mr. Jacobus has taught at the summer camp, as well.