Folk Band Debut Seen in September

Date: Month 00, 1900
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The Milwaukee International Folk Band will initially cosist of 11 to 16 members and is expected to give its first performance about the middle of September, officials said Monday.

Dave Kennedy, of the Dave Kennedy Recording Studios, hired to direct the band, said he was working on arrangements for the first years performances.

He said no musicians so far had been employed for the band but that he "was in the process of contacting several people."

James T. Butler, chairman of the band board, said the band would "try for three or four events in September." He said he could not pinpiont the events Monday because he

wanted to be sure the band would be ready to perform.

The band at first will have from 11 to 16 members, said Butler, but later will be expanded to 23 to 25 members.

"There are some occasions when you wouldn't want 25 band members," he said, adding that a smaller group would at times be more appropriate.

Kennedy said the band eventually would cater to specific ethnic groups, but at first would probably "salute the various nationality groups for the convetion purposes."

"Initially, we will have to

set up a group that can do a nice job on most of the ethnic music," he said, nothing that specific instruments would have to be used in presenting much authentic ethnic music.

Butler, who is the vice president and general manager of WISN-TV, announced over the weekend that Kennedy has been signed to a one year, $7,800 contract as band director.

"The first thing was to get a director," Butler said Monday. "Now it's up to him to get the band rehearsed and going."

The band is to be financed by $30,000 in city money.