(click on the images to enlarge)
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| The Collinwood Band, circa 1930 |
Carmine Pannito managed the band, organized the music, and
was the conductor of the band until his passing in 1967. He left the band to his drummer, Art Piunno,
to keep the tradition alive. Art managed
the band and the music, but hired a conductor to run the performances. With the help of Mike McGreen and Marty
Kordesch, the band was supplied with fresh young talent, many recruited from
Case Western Reserve University. When
Art passed away late in 1997, he left the band’s management and music to Wayne
Jennings and Jesse Wainright, who had been in the band for 16 years each at the
time. Together with conductor Nick Puin,
they now accomplish what Carmine Pannito once did alone. The transition was
greatly aided by the Piunno family, who strongly believed in what Art Piunno
was doing for the Italian Community and Catholic Churches in the Cleveland area
by preserving the band. Especially
important to Art were the traditionally Italian Catholic Parishes. Art often said of the band “We do it for the
Lord”.
The organization today: Jesse
Wainright is responsible for the management of the band’s music library. Especially important was his organizing of
the music into modern flip folders, the addition of many popular Italian songs
to the music library, and the expansion of the repertoire to include some
operatic music and other classical Italian music. Nick Puin is a fine conductor with many years
experience with the band. He is the
expert on our unique repertoire, much of which can be found nowhere else. He is a master of the style of conducting for
this genre. Wayne Jennings has taken the
role of business manager. He connects
with the church leaders, sets the schedule, manages the band’s finances and
pays the members for their performances.
Dedicated to preserving the unique heritage of the band, these three
have run the band successfully since 1998.
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| The Italian Band of Cleveland, 2010 |
(page updated 07/19/2016)
