music
GRAND JUNCTION CENTENNIAL BAND
MUSIC TO YOUR YEARS Words by Elisa Janson Jones | Photo by Ryan Sanchez
Elisa Janson Jones leads the Grand Junction Centennial Band.
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hree generations of Arisawa men take the
The Centennial Band is one of the largest
stage together. The grandpa, Toru, plays
community concert bands in the state. Unlike the
the bassoon next to his grandson, Kodama.
symphony, which carries a massive overhead
Triston, the dad, pulls out a tenor saxophone and
and charges ticket prices accordingly, Centennial
performs next to his younger son, Kaemon, on
Band performances will put you out nothing for
the alto saxophone. They aren’t the only family
tickets, thanks to donations, grants and entirely
group that spends their Thursday evenings
volunteer membership and management. This
making music together, but there’s only one
means maximum accessibility for the entire
band in the valley where this can happen, and
community.
it’s been around since 1976.
You won’t find any violins or cellos in the
over the Western Slope, committing their time to
Grand Junction Centennial Band, and you won’t
come together, practice and perform as part of
hear them performing Mozart or Beethoven.
the Centennial Band for the love of performing
Instead, you’ll hear instruments you may be
music, the camaraderie among the band
more familiar with, because you probably played
members and the fun they have together.
one in your own school band. When you attend
one of their concerts, you’ll hear music ranging
contributor to the musical environment of our
from Sousa Marches to modern film scores and
community and provide continuing education and
even pop music.
support of the musical arts in our community. The
Members of the band congregate from all
“Our mission is simple: to be a positive
