Scottdale Concert Band, Inc.

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About Us

The Scottdale Concert Band was formed in 1981 when Bert & Maureen Shirer and Rhonda Allison explored the possibility of starting a concert band in Scottdale. With the backing of the Scottdale Bank & Trust, Scottdale Rotary Club and local funding, the band played its first concert at the Scottdale Gazebo in 1982 under the direction of Fredrick Eberharter.
The band has had 8 directors and is currently under the direction of Dr. Roderick Booker, former Director of Bands at Hempfield High School and the music program at Westmoreland County Community College that included a Concert Choir, Symphonic Band, Chamber Orchestra, and Stage Band/Jazz Singers.
The band is now a 501(C)(3) non-profit charitable organization and has been providing wonderful music to local communities for 41 years.
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Rhonda Allison was born on Jan. 6, 1954, in Mt. Pleasant and was a daughter of the late Raymond and Ruth Laverne Sturtz. She married Rob Allison on Jan. 11, 1975. Rhonda was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She graduated from Southmoreland High School, class of 1972, and was employed for the past 20 years as the children’s librarian at the Scottdale Public Library. In the summer of 1972, Rhonda played the role of Miriam the Librarian in the musical The Music Man. How appropriate was than?!

Rhonda was a lifelong and faithful member of Scottdale Church of Christ, where she served as organist, choir director and Sunday school superintendent. She was a noted piano instructor and taught music to many. Rhonda, along with Bert and Maureen Shirer, was a co-founder of this Scottdale Concert Band. Their vision of providing an outlet for musicians after high school became a reality back in 1982.
She and her husband Rob enjoyed their longtime collaboration with the Heritage Singers & Players, Stephen Foster Performances and Christmastime caroling.
Rhonda was immensely proud of her family. Her 45 year marriage to her husband Rob, her three children, Ryan and Raeanna and their families and daughter Rachelle; her granddaughter, Hadley; her sister, Ruthann Bigley and her husband Dr. David Bigley to name a few. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her two brothers, Rodney and Ronald Sturtz. Rhonda shared her love of classic music with her husband, sister and three children, all of whom have decades of embarrassing photos in period costumes to prove it. Rhonda was awarded the WQED VITA award for being a noted volunteer in the Arts.
I’ve known Rhonda for over 50 years. She had no degree in Library Sciences, yet was an excellent Librarian. She had no degree in music, yet she could perform as well as those who did. She had no degree in Theology, yet her love and witness for her Lord and Savior was genuine and brought others to Christ.

Rhonda was a hometown girl who loved her hometown and made Scottdale and the world around it a better place to live. She enjoyed collecting umbrellas, listening to Keltic music and hanging out with her four cats: Horton, Finnegan, Penelope and Zazzle. Rhonda is remembered by her family as her favorite book character, Mary Poppins: “practically perfect in every way.