Who We Are

Vice President Gary Falk, left in picture, recently visited long-time member Tommy Walker at his residence in Brownsboro Hills.  Many members may remember Tommy, a trombonist, as a former board member of the Local, and long-time leader of the Tommy Walker Band.

June 2010

April 2010

On April 18 our long-time member Rubin Sher was inducted into the Manual High School Hall of Fame, in recognition of the years he spent developing Manual's band and orchestra program. At right, Alumni Director Mike McDaniel presents Rubin with his plaque.

March 2010  

February 2010

We are in the final stages of compiling your information for a new printed membership directory.  But please remember that the latest current member information can always be found online here in our Members-Only section.

January 2010

Our Annual Chili Supper and Awards Night took place Monday, January 25 in the Local's Rehearsal Hall.  Our faithful photographer Duke Marsh was awarded his 50-Year pin.  Those recognized for 25 years of membership are:  Rocky Adcock, Jerry Carlon, Miles Davis, Susanna Onwood and Katie Whiteside.  New Life Members are Ken Albrecht, Jerry Amend, Mark Atcher and Louise Harris.

The evening's other focus was the judging of chili.  Our Celebrity Chili Judge, local media personality Reed Yadon, awarded First Place to Jeanette Kays, Second Place to Dorissa Falk, and Third to Joe Lauletta.

Some pix are available here.  More pictures are available on Duke's Flickr site.

Don't forget:  2010 annual dues are due by the end of the month. 

December 2009

November 2009

In Memoriam Jerry Sharp Jerry (seen at right accepting his 50-year membership pin from President Joe Spain in 2004) passed away November 30, 2009. He was a long-time employee and former plant manager for the Fabri-Form Co. of Pekin, Indiana and an active member of our Local since 1954. Jerry sang and played piano for decades throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana. He was an honorary member of the Kosair Temple, an Honorary Captain of the Belle of Louisville, a Kentucky Colonel and was honored by the Kosair and Knights of Columbus for his work with their respective charity programs. Jerry is survived by his wife Frances, daughter Rhonda Grangier and son Rex Sharp.

October 2009

Results of the Local's recent election of officers are now available on the Members-Only section.

Third-Quarter newsletters have been mailed and should have reached you by now.  The newsletters are also available on the Members-Only section of this site.  Also available is Vice President Gary Falk's report on this year's Southern Conference of Locals.

September 2009 

IN MEMORIAM Frank Wagner, 78, passed away Sunday, Sept. 27 in Owensboro. Frank, a member of the Local for 47 years, was a talented jazz pianist, a retired homebuilder and real estate developer. He was a longtime member, past president and Paul Harris Fellow recipient of the Owensboro Rotary Club with 36 years of perfect attendance. He was also past president of the Owensboro Board of Realtors and a past president of the Home Builders Association of KY, and was inducted into the Kentucky Housing Hall of Fame in 2004.

Election of the Local's Officers and Executive Board will take place this month.  Ballots with candidate information and voting instruction were mailed September 22.  Please be sure to return your ballots by the due date.  Only those members currently in good standing will be eligible to vote.

August 2009

The Local held a Nomination Meeting at 7:00PM Monday, August 17 in the Rehearsal Hall to nominate candidates for the election of officers to be held later this fall. 

July 2009

The Lexington Philharmonic is holding auditions for several positions.  Learn more here.

The Louisville Metro Council has voted to retain the Community Music Partnership for Fiscal Year 2009-2010 at its current level, $30,000.  The motion passed on a vote of 23-0 with three members absent.  This once again secures the benefit of live music for neighborhood block parties, arts and crafts fairs, seniors' events and many other public functions throughout the metro area.

June 2009

At the General Membership Meeting held on Monday, June 22 some revisions to our bylaws were voted in regarding procedures for negotiating collective bargaining agreements.  The new language can be found in Article VIII, Section 6.  A pdf copy of the bylaws is available in the Members-Only section of this site.

May 2009

On May 29 we lost our long-time friend Tom Jolly.  Read his obituary and a tribute here.

April 2009

Life Member Walter Malzahn, 81, passed away  April 2.  After two stints in the Navy, he attended the Midwestern Conservatory of Music in Chicago, IL and the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, IL. He traveled as a trombonist with many of the name bands of the 1950's and 1960's.  In Las Vegas, NV he was a regular in the house band at the Stardust. He worked in Disneyland for many years, both as a member of the band and as an animatrician and a sound and light specialist. His longest active AFM membership lasted 53 years, with Local 47 in Los Angeles. After moving to Louisville in 1993, he played often with several of the local Big Bands, primarily in John Roy's Ovation Orchestra and David Mehl's Swing Street Big Band. He also played regularly for the Sunday morning worship service at Walnut Street Baptist Church and was a member of the jazz ensembles at the University of Louisville.

March 2009

Our Members-Only Site is now available, featuring an up-to-date listing of members by name or by instrument, copies of local contract forms, and other useful information.  Please click here for information on how to obtain access.

February 2009

The membership meeting called on February 16 did not draw enough attendance to constitute a quorum, so no official business was transacted.  Our accountant David Smith held a brief question-and-answer session about this year's tax laws.

January 2009

Our annual Chili Supper and Awards Night was held January 26.  Our 50-Year member, Wayne Young, also holds the distinction of simultaneously earning the status of Life Member.  Those recognized for 25 years of membership are:  Robin Chappars, Wendy Doyle, Joanna Goldstein, Jane Halliday, Nancy Harris, Melinda Odle, Michael Schroeder, Mark Tate and Ernie Threlkeld.

The evening's other focus was the judging of chili, and we had six entries this year, besides the "house" chili prepared by President Joe Spain and vegetarian chili from Virginia Taylor.  Our Chili Judge Tom Sobel of the Comedy Caravan awarded First Place to Shelley Finke, Second Place to Doug Finke, and Third to Charlie Niehoff.  See photos here.

Annual dues are due by January 31.  There was no dues increase for 2009.  Regular dues are still $134 for the year, Life Member dues are $79.72, and Inactive Life dues are $69.72.  Dues may be paid annually or semi-annually, but please remember to add your $10.00 life insurance premium copayment to your first payment for the year.  Youth and Student members may continue to pay $31 quarterly if desired. 

December 2008

October 2008

IN MEMORIAM

C. Paul Waggoner, 83, of Pekin, Indiana passed away October 14 after a long illness.  Paul was an excellent educator and served as band director at Silver Creek High School in Sellersburg, IN for many years, cultivating a love of instrumental music in his students.  He had been a member of this Local for 40 years, played trumpet, bass and keyboards, and was an arranger.  Cremation was chosen.  A graveside memorial service will be held at a later date.

The Local mourns the passing of trumpeter Gary Stonecipher, 74, a Life Member who had been with us 54 years.  Gary was a graduate of the U of L School of Music, part-owner of Gittli-Stonecipher Piano and employed by Henderson Music.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the American Cancer Society, The Crusade for Children, or MERF.

September 2008

September brings some changes to the Local.  Office Manager Virginia Taylor has retired after ten years in the position, but will continue to maintain the website. 

May 2008

Memorial Day and the start of the summer concert season is fast approaching.  Although we are anticipating some reduction in co-sponsorship funding from the Music Performance Fund, so far  we have been able to secure funding for most of our events.  Check the Concert Schedule page for upcoming events.

April 2008

We have recently held our initial meeting with the Louisville Regional Airport Authority and are pleased to say that there will be musicians at the airport to continue our long-standing tradition of playing to welcome Derby guests to our city. 

March 2008

Saxophonist Mel Owen, who led the Crusade for Children Orchestra for 25 years (1968-1992), died Wednesday, March 12.  Mel was 78 and had been a member of the Local for 60 years.  His other musical accomplishments included 9 years with the Glenn Miller Air Force Dance Band, later known as the Airmen of Note.  He was one of the founders of Hi Varieties and opened the Mel Owen music store in 1972.  Expressions of symphony to the Crusade.

February 2008

We were all saddened to hear of the death of member Paul Johnson, 87, on February 19 at his home.  Paul had been a member for 49 years, and was a familiar presence with the Rascals of Ragtyme, the Dixieland Doodlers and many other groups through the years.  Paul was preceded in death by his wife Elsie, with whom he celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in February 2007.

January 2008

Our annual Chili Supper and Awards Night was held Monday, January 28, 2008.  A 50-Year Pin was earned by Rubin Sher, and 25-Year Pins went to Shelley Chapman, Keith Cook and Charlie Niehoff.  See some snapshots here.

Death Announcements:  The Local has recently learned that long-time Life Member Roy Hare of Jeffersonville passed away on September 16 of last year after a brief illness.  Roy was 83 and played guitar and violin.  He had been a member for 54 years.   

Life Member Paul Swain, who had recently returned to the Louisville area after spending much of his professional life in New York City, died on January 5 of this year at the age of 96.  A memorial celebration will be held on April 5 at 2:00PM at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 2233 Woodbourne Ave.

December 2007

HAPPY HOLIDAYS May the joyful music of the season stay with you throughout the coming year. THE LOUISVILLE FEDERATION OF MUSICIANS Local 11-637, AFM President: Joseph P. Spain Vice President: Gary Falk Board Members: Steve Causey, Trevor Johnson, Greg Walker Office Manager: Virginia Taylor

November 2007

There was a General Membership Meeting at 7:00 PM Monday, November 26, in the Local's Rehearsal Hall, for the purpose of reevaluating our wage scales.  The Wage Scale Committee's recommendations were presented to the membership and approved unanimously by secret ballot of those present.  Specific information will be mailed to members in the next newsletter.

Virginia Kershner Schneider, 92, violist, passed away Sunday, November 4.  She had been a member of the Louisville Orchestra for 54 years, retiring in 1999.  She had also taught at U of L and introduced the Suzuki instruction method to Louisville.  At left, she is shown being awarded the Local's Musician of the Year Award for 1985.