In honor of a former band member who died earlier this month, the Rotary Club of Great Neck Summer Community Band will dedicate one of its four performances at the Village Green next month to her.
Beatrice Aubrey, a clarinetist for the band, also referred to as the Rotary Community Band, died on June 2 from a number of complications, said the band’s founder, Michael Flamhaft. She was 86 years old.
“Beatrice was such a sweet lady,” Flamhaft said. “You couldn’t have asked for a sweeter or more lovely person. She was always there with a smile, always friendly, always cooperative.”
He said Aubrey was the daughter of a violinist and began playing the piano at a young age.
She went on, Flamhaft said, to study music at Brandeis University.
He said that for 40 years Aubrey performed with the Dessoff Choirs, an independent choral organization based in New York City.
She also spent 10 years as a member of the alto section of Temple Isaiah of Great Neck’s choir, Flamhaft said.
He said Aubrey joined the Rotary Community Band in 2005.
Although her background was as a pianist and vocalist, Flamhaft said, Aubrey learned to play the clarinet specifically for the band.
“She was very fine, novice player,” he said. “She was an amazing great gal, truly she was.”
Flamhaft said he was surprised when he was alerted that Aubrey had died on the same day that the band was going to hold the first rehearsal for the four-concert series held at the Village Green.
The band will dedicate its third performance of the series, which takes place on July 20 at 7:30 p.m., to Aubrey, he said.
Flamhaft said he had written a piece for the clarinet called “Aye Clarumba” that the band will be performing in her honor.
He also said that Aubrey’s son, David, will be saying a few words about his mother at the July 20 concert.
The concerts will take place every Wednesday evening in July at 7:30 p.m. at the Village Green.
