What's kept the Two Rivers Community Band so successful as it rings in 100 years?
TWO RIVERS - When Gary Karstaedt placed his teeth around the reed and blew into a clarinet for the first time in the sixth grade, he had no idea hed be providing smiles through his music decades later as a retired father and grandfather in a local band. This year, Karstaedt marks his 50th year in what is today called the Two Rivers Community Band, which is celebrating its century anniversary as an organization. As historian for the band, Karstaedt used 2020s coronavirus shutdown to rummage through boxes and manila folders of information, photos and news articles about the band to put together a book, The Two Rivers Community Band, One Hundred Years of Music and Memories on the Lakeshore.  Music brings so much joy to people, he said. To see the smiles on peoples faces, especially as they remember the old polkas or waltzes they remember from when they were young, means so much.  The band started as the Hamilton Manufacturing Company Band in 1920. The group was composed of Hamilton employees, except for one outlier who worked for Mirro Aluminum Company. And its constitution allowed only men to join the band. One of Karstaedts earliest memories is as a 5-year-old, walking to the heart of Two Rivers downtown holding his mothers hand, to watch the Hamilton band marching past a crowd of people and stopping to march and perform in front of the Community Hall. That impressed me so much at a young age, he said. When he was in sixth grade, attending a one-room school in Zander, band director Glenn Nelson from Mishicot brought a variety of instruments, including a flute, trumpet, tuba, saxophone and clarinet. He said, Stand next to the instrument you think youd like to play, and I went right up to the clarinet, Karstaedt recalled. His uncle was in a polka band and played clarinet, so the choice was a no-brainer for the boy. He kept up the instrument and continued to play in the Mishicot Middle School and High School band. As Karstaedt approached graduation, Nelson, who was also his band teacher in high school, encouraged him and two of his bandmates to continue with what had become the Two Rivers Municipal Band. The director (a paid position, as are those who play in the band) wanted a more balanced sound and needed to recruit people who played a variety of instruments from outside of Hamilton, so the band was moved under the umbrella of the Two Rivers Recreational Department. Eventually, it became the Two Rivers Community Band to recruit players from outside of Two Rivers. The constitution was also modified in the 1970s to allow women to join. Today, players come from Manitowoc, Two Rivers, Sheboygan and beyond. The band has had around 613 members over the years. As for Karstaedt, he credits Nelson and his mother for his life-long love of music and band-playing. (Nelson) was really concerned that so many high school band players put away their instruments and never play again, Karstaedt said. He didnt want that to happen.  His mother, too, insisted he remain in a band. In high school, Karstaedt got the hankering to get into sports. She told me, You come from a family with a long tradition in music, he said. Your stepdad plays, your aunts and uncles play. You cant just quit.  So he compromised to play some sports, but continue with the band. The rest, as they say, is history. Karstaedt joined the band in 1971 and has been tooting his clarinet ever since. In the 1980s, he helped resurrect the tradition of marching through Two Rivers downtown for the Old-fashioned Concert. In 1986, he became the bands historian. The band has seen ups and downs, Karstaedt said, slowing down from 1933 to 1938 during the Great Depression when pennies were tight and folks were scraping to get by. The band halved in 1941 when the United States entered World War II. They still had a band, but it was skeleton, he said. Both band players and directors have been loyal to the operation. Its had just five directors in its 100-year history. Anton Hanson served for a single year, followed by Lorenz Lueck, who served from 1922 to 1961 and worked tirelessly to grow and promote the band. Andrew Kashnig was director from 1962 to 1980 and Glenn Nelson directed from 1981 to 2017. Current director Philip Stangel has served since 2018. Karstaedts book includes plenty of information, photos and newspaper articles of the directors and things that happened under their leadership. Likewise, the band has 11 people, including Karstaedt, who have played for 50 years or more. Charles Schwake was a member for 70 years, beginning in 1941 through 2010, the year he passed away. Another was a member for 66 years, and three played for 60 years. Its such a fun thing to do, I think we all look forward to coming back every year, Karstaedt said. "People have such dedication and passion for the band." RELATED:Two Rivers arcade: Dump some quarters for a round of Tetris  RELATED: Intended as a repository to replace Neshotah's sand, residents are discovering a 'hidden gem' of beach along Lake Michigan  Of course, many people drop out after a year or two, and its becoming difficult to recruit young members. After a year off because of COVID-19, the band has lost about 12 or 13 members, he estimated. The drop-off is a trend thats continued for a number of years. People are busy or go to college and move away and never come back, Karstaedt said. Its a dying art form.  Still, he and other members continue to give it all theyve got. The band does eight performances throughout the summer months, including the Two Rivers Memorial Day parade, the SnowFest Parade and Brat Days in Sheboygan. Karstaedt will be honored during July 18s Concert in the Park, set for 1:30-3 p.m. at Central Park, 1700 Washington St. He is modest about the recognition, saying the history and importance of the band go beyond him. He hopes people will buy his book, available for $38 and calling him at 920-755-3072. He will deliver or mail the book to buyers. The music gives people so much joy, he said. Especially people middle-aged or older, they remember the songs from when they were young, and often you will see tears streaming down their faces. Its beautiful.  Contact reporter Patti Zarling at 920-606-2586 or send an email to pzarling@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @PGPattiZarling.