Dryden Area Intergenerational Band & Chorus to hold two concerts

The Dryden Area Intergenerational Band & Chorus (DAIBC) is back for another summer season, and two concerts next month will cap the preparation on a high note.

The DAIBC will perform Aug. 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 4 at 3 p.m. The group’s season began near the end of June, and it has been rehearsing since then.

Both concerts are free, said Brian Earle, who is part of the DAIBC. Each concert will be held at the Dryden High School auditorium. Earle noted that the DAIBC accepts donations.

“It’s a marvelous musical experience for all ages,” Earle said. “The number one premise of the group is that it should be open to everybody, regardless of age or experience.”

The DAIBC was first organized by Jody Earle, Brian’s wife, in 1996 when the town of Dryden asked the community to string together a concert for the town’s year-long bicentennial.

“It started out as a one-year commitment,” Brian said. “Just by word of mouth, we got a group to sing and another group to play a band concert at the park. Everyone liked it so much we did it again the next summer.”

Almost 30 years later, the DAIBC has built a foundational impact within the community. As described on the DAIBC’s website, the group welcomes anyone to play and sing music “from eight [years of age] to 88 and beyond.”

The DAIBC also has a five-person volunteer board that plans, organizes and sorts out music for the concerts, while also applying for grants.

“The group was maintained and supported this whole time. [Jody] was really the spark plug that kept the group going,” Brian said, noting that a person can join the DAIBC if they’re old enough to perform music. “No skill tests are needed, and there’s no competition between us.”

The people involved in the DAIBC expand from Greene, a town in Chenango County, to Tully in Onondaga County. From Freeville to Freetown, to Cortland and Homer, the DAIBC community reaches far lengths, Brian said.

Brian noted that at one point, the DAIBC had 15 family groups. A family of three generations, which included a grandmother, a daughter and a granddaughter, was part of the group.

“It’s pretty remarkable,” Brian said, noting that it’s free to join the group.

Brian said the DAIBC sometimes “brings people back into music” who haven’t played or sung in 20-30 years. He noted that the younger members “have the utmost respect” for older members, as well.

“The fun part is sharing a musical experience with someone else,” Brian said. “It’s like riding a bicycle. Once you start, it comes back pretty quickly.”

The DAIBC’s show in August will provide a mix of genres. The band portion of the concerts will include a piece that’s simpler for the younger members to handle, Brian said.

The band will also showcase a chorus line and a march with “Stars & Stripes.” Music from Disney movies and the film “Top Gun” will also be part of the concert.

On the chorus side, Brian said the group is singing two “fairly contemporary and fun” pieces. One of the pieces will be “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley, while the final piece includes two Robert Burns ballads: “A Red, Red Rose” and “Highland Mary.”

More information on the DAIBC can be found on its website at daibc.org.

Dryden Dispatch appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Village receives state funding to replace culvert

The village of Dryden will receive $1.33 million in New York state funding through the BRIDGE NY initiative to replace a culvert under Union Street, according to a release.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on June 11 that 137 local governments will receive $484 million of BRIDGE NY funds. The village is one of over 20 municipalities in the Southern Tier to receive a piece of the $58 million set aside for the region.

“As New York continues to experience the effects of climate change firsthand, we need to make critical infrastructure upgrades so our communities can withstand the extreme weather to come,” Hochul said in the release. “Working closely with local governments, we are investing millions to harden more than 200 bridges and culverts across the State, enhancing public safety and making these structures ready for whatever mother nature can throw at us.”

Registration open for youth soccer in Dryden

The Town of Dryden Recreation Department has announced that registration for youth soccer is open.

Youth soccer games are Sept. 14, 21 and 28 and Oct. 5, 12 and 19 at Dryden High School. Ages 7-8 will play at 9 a.m., while games for ages 5-6 and 9-13 are at 10 a.m.

Practice time and days have yet to be determined. Ages 5-6 will not have practice; ages 7-8 will practice once, and ages 9-13 will practice twice per week.

The registration cost is $25. Coaches will reach out to players regarding team assignments, practices and games. Shin guards are required, and cleats are recommended.

For more information, go to drydenrec.recdesk.com.