Occupations vary, but brass band members all love music

By ANNABEL GIRARD
Staff Writer

If life had been different, Ron and Pat Facktor might be playing full-time in a military band.

He plays the alto horn and fell in love with the blonde clarinet player who sat in front of him in the college band.

After getting married in 1962, the Facktors moved to Washington, D.C., where he was a member of the U.S. Army Field Band. At that time, women weren't allowed to play in military bands. Being away from home for six months out of the year wasn't the type of life he wanted.

Today, many couples serve in military bands and are able to travel together. ``If that had been true when we first arrived, we honestly think we would have stayed in for the lifetime,'' Facktor said.

The military's loss was Danville's Advocate Brass Band's gain. The Facktors of Louisville are two of the ``citizen'' musicians who help make up the ranks of the town band that serves as host of the Great American Brass Band Festival. Others include teachers Kim and Chris Woolums and sign painter Eben Henson.

Ron Facktor is a landscape architect and his wife teaches at AJ Preschool. They came to the second band festival in 1991 and were captivated. Mrs. Facktor, then and there, asked band director and festival organizer George Foreman if they could play in the Advocate band. He told them to write a letter. She did. There was a need for a clarinet player but not an alto horn at that time. By the spring of 1992, the band needed both instruments and the Facktors were part of the band family.

Keeping music as an avocation is one reason many non-professional band members participate in the town band. Facktor also finds time to play with other groups, including Commonwealth Brass, a brass quintet and the Jewish Community Center Orchestra.

``I tell you what. I was out today at lunch with one of the contractors,'' Facktor said. ``He said, Ron, you really should have gone into music.'''

But Facktor said being a landscape architect is just as satisfying as music. ``I needed a profession. I was interested in engineering. The majority of what I do is site engineering,'' he said.

The Woolums of Paint Lick are another couple participating in the Advocate Brass Band who met through band. Both teach music in elementary school, but find little opportunity to perform.

``Now, I do not get to play that often. This is about all playing I get,'' Kim Woolums said.

The Advocate band provides that outlet. Chris' father, Larry, also is a member of the band of 42 members whose occupations cover everything from professional musician to county coroner.

That's one reason the Advocate band appeals to Kim Woolums. ``I just like seeing all the people in different occupations. Some people are really professionals, like Vince (DiMartino). Others are like us, just school teachers. Chris' dad is retired. ... What ties us all together is the music.''

Drummer Henson and Facktor find there's another magnet to keep them coming back. Director Foreman spins a good story. ``For almost every single piece of music, George has story,'' Facktor said. ``He has told a good yard with each story.''

Henson describes it as ``George Foreman's passion. He comes up with some interesting stuff.''

Danville sign painter Henson is one of the newer members of the band that started in 1987. He came on to help out and has stayed. ``I thought it was a good idea to try and rekindle reading music. I had not learned any drum music for 20 years,'' he said.

He had been a member of the Danville High School band and played as a freshman in college. On and off over the years since, Henson has played in dance bands, but the music for a brass band is ``completely different,'' he said.

The mix of musical abilities appeals to Henson. ``I guess what I really like is just that I get to play with a group of people who are very talented. It's very enjoyable blending myself in with professionals.''