Meet the Band

After Hours Big Band

We Love What We Do!

We really do love playing the music of the past.  The '30's right up through the '70's and even some newer. The After Hours Big Band  formed in 1995 in Lykens, PA for the recognition of the 50th Anniversary of the End of WW II.  As part of this Community Event Jim Cummins, local High School Band DIrector, got a group of friends and former students together to play a few songs; for one night!  What do you do when you enjoy what you did?  You do it again, and again and again!  The band adds variety to their Swing Dance  song list when requested. Brian Setzer Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band,  The Phil Collins Big Band and others.  Over twenty seven years the band has grown in size and changed. One former member, Robert T Schaffner, arranged more than twenty songs and are the exclusive property of the band to perform.  Thank you Schaffner family! We always play several of those.  Why not come out and see the band and listen, dance, smile and remember!      

Saxophones & Woodwinds

Larry Fisher

Band Leader, Lead Alto Sax

Larry is the current high school band director at Southern Lehigh High School in Center Valley, PA. Larry's passion for music was cultivated at an early age by both of his parents being musicians and growing up in the Sparta public school system, which had an incredibly strong music education program. His primary music teachers were Deborah Gianuzzi, Joy Allen, Christian Arnold, and Steven Felsen. After graduating high school, he attended Susquehanna University where he earned a B.M. in Music Education and studied saxophone with Dr. Gail Levinsky. He earned his Master's of Music in Wind Conducting in 2017 from Messiah College. Larry is active as a woodwind player playing in several groups, including the Clickard Consortium and the Williamsport City Jazz Orchestra. 

Terry Schaffner

Alto Sax, Clarinet

Terry is from Hickory Corners PA (Between Herndon and Dalmatia). After Mansfield State College Terry graduated from the Armed Forces School of Music. He was an Army Musician for the 327th Field Band and the 101st Div Band.  He joined After Hours a few years after its formation.  When not performing with After Hours he is with the four piece ensemble Swing and a Miss.  Terry taught woodwind students for many years.  You may have seen, and will continue to see Terry playing  in the Pit band of many High School Musicals.  

 

George Homberg

Solo Tenor Saxophone, Voice

George heard After Hours  playing near his home in Elizabethville, PA and said he was available if we needed a Tenor Sax. We did and here he is!  That was ten years ago.  George started playing professionally at the age of 11.  Over his career he has played with Charley Pride, Wayne Newton and Dean Martin among others.  George served with the 384th Army Band, Ft Eustis, VA, the 19th Army Band, Ft Dix, NJ and finished his 25 yr military career with The United States Army Band, "Pershing's Own", Ft Myer, VA. In addition to After Hours George plays with the Lykens Liberty Hose Company #2 Band and Shotgunn.

Scott Onest

Tenor & Bari Saxophone

A native or Erie, PA, Scott and his lovely wife Deb are Minersville empty nesters.  He has been with the band since 2003. Scott is one of the more popular members of the band because he is the guy that keeps the books and pays us!  Scott also plays with The Tremont Band and thinks music is the best hobby ever!  

Daniel Young

Baritone Sax

Daniel joined After Hours Big Band in the Spring of 2022 and is a resident of Orwigsburg, PA. He has a master's degree in history and works at the Schuylkill County Historical Society.

Dan also studied music, organ and piano at Saint Vincent College.

He is a longtime member of the M&J Big Band, and also performs with the Cressona Band and Pine Grove Community Band.

Dan's other musical pursuits include duties as an organist at St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church in Schuylkill Haven and the organist at Pottsville United Presbyterian Church.

Trombones

Brian Shughart

Solo Trombone

Brian is a retired music educator from Barnesville PA. When not leading the Trombone section and handling the Trombone Solos he is another handy band member to have around. Brian is a highly skilled craftsman and fixes things.  He has a special knack for fixing "musical things".  If you see someone handing him a saxophone between sets it is because something broke and he will surely have it taken care of before the next downbeat!  When not playing with After Hours Brian plays with the Schuylkill County Orchestra, Pottsville's Third Brigade Band and the Cresona Band .

Ken Baker

Trombone, Stage Sound, Recording, Webmaster

Ken is formerly from York where he got his start in trombone and continued playing at Elizabethtown College.  Now from Lykens, PA, after 25 years of musical silence Ken got out his trombone and joined the Lykens Liberty Hose Company #2 Band.  After several years of getting his "chops back" he was invited to sub occasionally for After Hours and when the opportunity arose to join full time he jumped at the chance.  Ken helps with the sound, does the performance recording and webmaster duties. When not playing with After Hours you may hear Ken with the Liberty Hose Company Band or the Dave Neith Big Band in the Lehigh Valley.

Vocals