Person Record

Metadata

Name

St. Louis BandJos Youth Banjo Band

Role

Banjo Band

Sphere Of Activity

About St. Louis BandJos Youth Banjo Band
We are a young band! All 12 members are between ages 9 and 19. We are also young in terms of our start-up occurring about seven years ago. When you see us perform at the All Frets Convention in Branson, you will see the results of over 300 rehearsals and more than 30 public performances.

Membership is open to all youth ages 8 and above. We begin with a child and parent interview; continue with providing a rental banjo for $35 per year. Joe Feager provides free weekly lessons. Youth are placed in the band as quickly as they can accomplish beginning level skills. The time spent in pre-band lessons is generally 6-8 weeks.

Over the years a total of 45 youth have gotten at least some four-string banjo experience. Many of those have left due to schedule conflicts or work and school commitments that took them away from weekly practices.

We currently have 6 tenor-tuned and 6 plectrum-tuned players. There are three young women and nine young men in the band. They also play other instruments such as violin, mandolin, piano and guitar.

Our goal from the beginning has been to share the banjo with the larger community by performing as much as possible. We have performed at the St. Louis Banjo Club, community events for the Oakland House, local libraries, retirement homes and Zion Methodist Church, as well as several times each fall and spring at one of three restaurants. The majority of our youth have also performed independently in senior citizen settings, schools, and talent contests. One member got a busking license, and played "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" outside the St. Louis Cardinals stadium.

Once each year, these youngsters get to choose the songs that they want to add to their songbook. Some of the selections you hear tonight are a result of those choices. Our kids love the banjo and the variety of music that can be played on it. We hope that many of you will fondly recall those early days of learning to play "America's Fun Instrument", the four-string banjo!

Founder: Ginny Luetje
Ms. Ginny left us in November 2012 after a well-fought battle with cancer. She devoted the last five years of her life to her goal of bringing back the sounds of the banjo through America's youngsters, personally teaching at least 30 in the St. Louis area. One of our youngsters (Louis), has been a member of the band since we began in January 2008.

Doing what Ginny did single-handedly is taking the efforts of both Don Dempsey and Joe Feager as well as the moral and financial support from many good friends across the country.

The banjo community have been generous donors to the STL BandJos Youth Band. We are so grateful for all contributions. If you can help us continue to grow and prosper, these youngsters will continue to improve their skills on the four-string banjo. It is an exciting time for our St. Louis banjo kids!

Band Director: Don Dempsey
Music Director: Joe Feager