Music and Concerts |

Snowbelt Musical Arts Association brings music to Geauga, Lake counties

Northeast Ohio is home to a musical performance group whose name gives a nod to the area’s frosty winter weather.

The Snowbelt Musical Arts Association, composed of four performing ensembles, was founded in 2017 by Greg Hillis, a former director of the Great Geauga County Fair Band. Following his term with the fair band Hillis began looking at opportunities for local musicians to play and perform and also to offer high quality concerts to area audiences.

He notes that his wish to make music widely available in Geauga and Lake counties started years earlier while growing up in Chardon.

“I always wondered why we had to leave the county to hear or play in a concert,” he said. “I’ve made it my mission to bring as much music to the area as possible.”

Partnering with a group of friends from the fair band who served as the first board of directors, Hillis’s goal was achieved.

SMAA is comprised of four performing ensembles: Lake Effect Concert Band, a community band for older teens and adults; Blizzard Youth Winds, a concert band for junior and senior high school students; Polar Vortex, a big band jazz ensemble; and Snowbelt Symphony, a professional symphony orchestra.

Recruiting members through flyers at local music stores and using social media and emails for networking proved to be successful.

“It was almost immediately apparent that the Lake Effect Concert Band would be viable,” Hillis said.

Since that time general interest and support for the group has consistently grown. The Lake Effect Concert Band drew nearly 400 attendees at its latest concert and the SMAA Facebook page has attracted more than 1,200 followers.

The wide span of musicians’ ages ranging from high school students to seniors in their 80s is advantageous, according to Dee Costello, mother of one of the younger concert band members.

“(There’s) fantastic mentoring by the amazing more experienced musicians,” she said. “They’re just super human beings.”

The chance for many family members to participate together is another benefit. Michael and Nancy McMillin claim that band practice serves as the couple’s date night.

“Music has been important to our lives since before we met 26 years ago,” Michael said. “Participating in the Lake Effect Concert Band, watching our son participate in the Blizzard Youth Winds, and volunteering for the Snowbelt Symphony has given us such joy and fulfillment. We are very lucky and blessed to have this opportunity.”

Each ensemble typically meets for five or six rehearsals followed by one or more concerts. Along with designated sessions members are expected to practice on their own to further hone their skills.

Although COVID prevented gathering in person for more than a year, ingenuity and technology were employed in order to maintain musical connections.

SMAA Board President Steve Ingrassia mixed audio and produced videos from submissions by individual musicians. The videos are available on Ingrassia’s YouTube channel, under the Snowbelt Musical Arts Association playlist, and most are also available on the SMAA YouTube channel.

Jim Vinciquerra is a musician who plays euphonium in Lake Effect. More than 50 years ago he was a member of the Wickliffe High School Band.

“As one of the ‘elder statespersons’ of the group, I find that challenges of practice and performance keep me both young at heart and mentally sharp,” he said. “In addition, I get a chance to be part of something that brings joy to me as well as an appreciative audience.

“I had wanted to get back into music since my high school band years, 55 years ago, and the Lake Effect Band has thankfully provided me with that opportunity.”

Although SMAA is busy performing at various venues from senior living centers to local jazz festivals, the group continues to work toward growing audiences, establishing regular financial support from corporate and grant sources, creating school outreach programs and more.

Upcoming concerts include the Blizzard Youth Winds at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at a location to be announced, Snowbelt Symphony 4 p.m. Feb. 18 at New Promise Church in Kirtland and Lake Effect Concert Band at 7 p.m. March 22 at Berkshire High School in Burton.

For additional concerts and more information on SMAA visit snowbeltmusical.org.