About Us

The Cary Town Band has a rich and enduring history deeply intertwined with the story of Cary itself. Founded in the fall of 1987 by Cary Mayor Harold Ritter and Dr. James R. Hammerle, who led the band for an impressive 21 years, the group was created to offer a genuine “19th Century Town Band Experience”. Complete with authentic band coats and music from that era, the band quickly became a cornerstone of the community’s cultural life.

With initial funding from the Cary Town Council, Dr. Hammerle recruited sixteen dedicated members and secured the necessary instruments and music to launch performances at local community events. His passion and commitment earned him the title of “Outstanding Volunteer of the Year” by the Town of Cary in 2009. What began as a small ensemble has grown into a thriving group of over fifty volunteer musicians, many of whom are professionals outside of music.

After Dr. Hammerle’s retirement, Director Stuart Holoman took the helm, dedicating himself to preserving the original vision of the Cary Town Band while emphasizing its cultural significance within the community. Under his leadership, the band continued to flourish, and in 2014, it was honored as Cary’s Partner Organization of the Year.

In October 2022, Connie Varner assumed the role of director after Holoman’s retirement. Under Connie’s leadership, the band has not only grown in size but also begun exploring new musical styles and expanding its repertoire. While embracing these new directions, the band remains committed to preserving the spirit and tradition of a true community band.

Since its inception, the Cary Town Band has enriched the cultural life of Cary and neighboring communities through performances at beloved events such as Lazy Daze, Memorial Day ceremonies, July 4th celebrations, and annual concerts at venues like the Cary Arts Center and Koka Booth Amphitheatre. The band proudly offers free concerts featuring a blend of modern and traditional music, including the ever-popular Silly Prize Concerts.

Looking to the future, the Cary Town Band remains dedicated to growing both in size and in musical diversity, fostering community connections through the power of music. We invite you to join us at an upcoming concert and experience the vibrant spirit of Cary through music.

Musicians

Director

Connie Varner (’11)

Director

Connie Varner (’11)

Flute / Piccolo

Liz Holoman (’90)

Greg Buol (’05)

Barbara Kirkpatrick (’15)

Erin Ziegler (’23)

Michelle Lewis (’23)

Oboe

Natalie Fulwider (’21)

Bassoon

David Brook (’05)

Kim Chantala (’19)

Dale Broadbent (’25)

Alto Saxophone

Marilyn Wolf (’21)

Allison Shapiro (’24)

Tenor Saxophone

Doug Kelly (’12)

Baritone Saxophone

Edward Hall (’16)

Percussion

Cindy Sinkez (’10)

Mark Hill (’17)

Simon Capell (’23)

Jim Van Verth (’25)

Trumpet

Chuck Moore (’04)

Meryl Moore (’07)

Milton Carawan (’09)

AJ Kochanowski (’15)

Frank Fulton (’17)

Jay Shealy (’17)

Dan Carlson (’18)

Jeff Greenwood (’21)

Dave Varnas (’23)

Josh Fesmire (’26)

French Horn

Casey Parshall (‘22)

Jessica Bradley (‘22)

Jess Albert (‘22)

Anita Hynus (’23)

Ryan Saathoff (’24)

Trombone

Yoshi Nakamura (’98)

Lisa Kooker (’22)

Jay Brock (’24)

Euphonium

Mac Gilbert (’22)

Buddy West (’23) *

Tiegan Wilson (’26)

Eb Soprano Clarinet

Wendy Real (’17)

Bb Clarinet

Nancy Colegrove (’87) *

Bennie Fussell (’87) * 

Joan Fleming (’10)

Cindy Hiltenbrand (’15)

Wendy Real (’17)

Gail Caverly (’18)

Kristine Clements (’19)

Jeneal Teander (’20) *

Jessica Bousquet (’21) 

Tom Blodgett (’21)

Mike Fussell (’23)

Ralph Clements (’25)

Eb Alto Clarinet

Jane Caldwell (’23)

Bb Bass Clarinet

Rosemary Kelly (’21)

Contrabass Clarinet

Tom Amoreno (’23)

Tuba

Bill White (’17)

Jeff Davis (’21)

Mark Hunzaker (’23)

Associate Members

Clark Colegrove (’97)

Gordon Sinkez (’12)

Pat Walker (’21)

Marlene White (’22)

Karlea White (’23)

Jesse Kooker (’23)

Associate Members

Clark Colegrove (’97)

Pat Walker (’21)

Marlene White (’22)

Karlea White (’23)

Jesse Kooker (’23)

*  = Denotes Charter Member

Board of Directors

President

Vice-President

Director

Secretary

Treasurer

At-Large

At-Large

Barbara Kirkpatrick

Milton Carawan

Connie Varner

Nancy Colegrove

Lisa Kooker

Cindy Hiltenbrand

Greg Buol

President

Barbara Kirkpatrick

Vice-President

Milton Carawan

Director

Connie Varner

Secretary

Nancy Colegrove

Treasurer

Lisa Kooker

At-Large

Cindy Hiltenbrand

At-Large

Greg Buol

Don't miss our concert!

That Big Band Sound
Cary Arts Center
May 1, 2026 at 7:30 PM

Join the Cary Town Band for our upcoming That Big Band Sound concert!