Bayside, All Agog Over Boys' Band Lays Plans For Town Concert and Rally in P.S. 41 Next Wednesday

Bayside is all stirred up over it's boys' band. Just at present it is being as much talked about as subway or sewers. Most of the boys are talking eagerly about trombones, tubas and drums and their daddies and mothers are thinking what a fine thing it will be to have a young Sousa in the family and a boys' band that will put Bayside on the big map.

     They are even going to have a town rally and gala concert in P.S. 41 on the evening of October 9, when Nicholas Shilzony, with his famous boys' band of College Point, will be there to give an interesting program.

     That is just to start the thing off right and show the boys of Bayside how it's done. Meanwhile talks are to be given about the band in each of the Bayside schools and every youngster in town between twelve and sixteen will be invited to enlist and test his talent for tooting.

Originated with Lions

The idea really originated with the Bayside Lions Club a year ago and the thing has been simmering in the minds of several Bayside's public spirited citizens since then. Last spring a benefit entertainment was held at the Capitol Theater and a handsome sum was realized toward financing the boys' band project. This fund has been augmented bu the Lions Club and committees appointed to put the organization on its feet in proper shape.

     Nicholas Shilzony, the celebrated bandmaster, who had his training in the Austro-Hungarian army, has been engaged to take charge of the band and will begin at once for work of selecting the best talent to he had in the town.

     More or less weeding out will doubtless be necessary, but he says that the boys of that age, with even moderate musical talent, progress much more rapidly then places of mature years. He points to the excellence of the College Point boys' band as proof of this fact. And in addition to the wholesome pleasure of the band organization, each boy in it will receive if he sticks to the job.

     Mr. Shilzony's life since he left the Austro-Hungarian army, where he started as a drummer boy, has practically been devoted to the training of boys' bands. Many years ago he came to this country with the wide famed Hungarian Hussars Band and toured the United States, Canada and Mexico.

     All the players in that band were boys and most of them have since joined such organizations as John Phillip Sousa's Band and other high-grade musical groups in this country and Europe.

     Arrangements are being made for the procuring the instruments and uniforms and a general invitation is given to every boy in Bayside to attend the concert on October 9 and learn what it is all about.

     It is expected that many more will enlist that can be used in the band but the process of selecting the most promising ones will be up to Mr. Shilzony, who has had wide experience in that sort of task. About twenty-four boys will be required in order to make the band complete with full complement of instruments and those who are selected will be required to buckle down to the job and do their very best.

     When Mr. Shilzony retired from the concert stage and as band leader three years ago, he went to College Point intending to devote the remainder of his life to composing and private teaching. The it was suggested to him that he try the experiment of organizing a boys band in the town. There were many musical people in College Point and nearby communities, who were interested in that sort of thing and he consented to try it out.

     Today the so-called "experiment" has developed into something the people of College Point are very proud of.  Their boys' band is not only a joy to the home folks, but it has become widely known and much sought after in this part of the country.