Donauschwäbische Blaskapelle
Hometown: Olmsted Falls, OH
Genres: World
Biography
In 1958, the Cleveland Society of Danube Swabians’ Brass Band & Posaunenchor was founded by Peter Glatt and Reverend Horst Hoyer. Songs performed consisted primarily of waltzes, polkas, and marches.
The band often played at the Banater Club, Sachsenheim Club, and Gottscheer Club, and after six years, the band had grown to forty-four members. At that time, Glatt entrusted the band to Edmund Seifert and Hans Franz.
In June 1968, the Cleveland DSB was invited to perform at the Bundesmusikfest in Sindelfingen, Germany, taking first place honors for an unforgettable performance of F.H. Losey’s 1896 composition, "Snap Shot." 156 brass bands were in attendance, and the DSB performed a total of forty-seven concerts in just sixteen days.
Richard "Coach" Reuding and Hans Noel subsequently took over as the DSB toured Canada and performed at Disneyland in Anaheim, California in 1971. The band continued onward and upward with Peter Weber, Ralph Rehner, and Michael Rehner, performing at Disney World and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in 1975. In April 1979, the band performed on a luxurious Carnivale Cruise of the Caribbean Sea, which included performances in the Dominican Republic, San Juan, and Saint Croix.
Continued success followed under the direction of Bob Kozsey, Ferdinand Bleich, Paul Psota, Matt Niessen, Michael Sifferman, Jack Hack, and Michele Esper. Most recently, Roger Radke and John McClellan have organized performances in Detroit, Sandusky, Sharon, and Windsor, as well as local venues such as the Akron Zoo, All Pro Freight Stadium, Altenheim & Shurmer Place, Amherst German Fest, Canal Park, Cleveland Labor Day Oktoberfest, Cleveland Maennerchor, Cleveland World Festival, German Central Oktoberfest, German Cultural Garden, Great Lakes Brewing Company, Heimatland Oktoberfest, Hofbräuhaus Cleveland, John Carroll University, Lenau Park Sommer Oktoberfest, Olmsted Falls Heritage Days Festival, Parker Hannifin, and Sandusky Oktoberfest.
On June 8th, 2017, the Cleveland Donauschwäbische Blaskapelle returned to Germany, performing not only at Hofbräuhaus München, but also with the Original Banater Dorfmusikanten at the Landsmannschaft der Donauschwaben in Haar, Bavaria. The DSB also performed at the U.S. Army Barracks in Grafenwöhr, with Blasorchester Höchst at Bürgerhaus Frankfurt-Goldstein, at Kath. Pfarramt St. Cäcilia in Mosbach, at the Donauschwäbisches Zentralmuseum in Ulm, and with the Wielenbacher Musikanten at Gasthaus Guggemos in Wielenbach. Needless to say, the Donauschwäbische Blaskapelle’s Deutschlandtour was an excellent opportunity to interact with fellow German musicians, allowing the DSB to learn even more about German and Danube Swabian culture from a uniquely local perspective.
As the Cleveland DSB enters into its 61st year, under the direction of Julie Williams, the traditions of Danube Swabian brass bands continue as the DSB performs long standing waltzes, polkas, and marches. Special thanks to all who have supported the Cleveland DSB, past and present!
Members
Music
