'This is really cool!': Willow community band performs its annual, once-a-year gig in July 4th parade

Marching bands are as much a part of a 4th of July parade as American flags and fireworks, most of the time. The Willow Community parade is no different, as a community band of all ages comes together to play just this one annual gig every year, something that has quickly become a tradition in the parade.

“It’s fun. We just played together for the first time,” said Elizabeth Gunlogson, who was warming up her clarinet, along with fellow clarinet player Karen Ladegard, who plays the clarinet for the Mat-Su Concert Band as well.

Willow resident Steve Charles, who serves on Board for the Mat-Su Concert Band, says the idea came about when he was living in the small town of Froid, Montana and attended the town’s centennial where he happened upon a man playing a saxophone on a front loader, sounding “really cool.”

“I thought if he could do that, then we can do something here in Willow, get some kind of band for the parade.” He says the band has been playing for 5 years and has no intention of slowing down, as he fields requests at the beginning of the year.

“Oh yeah, I get people asking in January if the band is going to play at the parade. We love it.”

In addition to leading the community band, Charles is a retired music teacher and with his wife, Marian live in Willow. He is also active within the community, having served as chair of the Willow Trail Committee and as a board member of many non-profits including the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation and Friends of State Parks.

But his passion still remains in music, believing that community bands are an excellent place for folks to participate in music throughout their lives.

The band is made up of community members of all ages, with numbers of players from 20 to 50, and every skill level.

“We get some and people, we get some locals, and we get some former students. We get people that played in high school that maybe haven’t played in years. We’ve got easy music, and a few pieces that are a little more difficult.”

One of the younger members of the band, 13-year-old clarinet player Elizabeth Zielaski, was visiting family on vacation, having traveled all the way from New Hampshire. When Zielaski saw the opportunity, she said “I want to play in the parade!” And the family made it happen.

“I love it. The people here are really so nice and this is so cool!”