LaFontaine native named to Bandmasters HOF

Ex-educator formed Mississinewa Valley Band

By Ed Breen

A longtime music educator in Grant and surrounding counties has been honored with inclusion in the Indiana Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame.

John Brane, a native of LaFontaine and a resident of Van Buren, was inducted into the hall of fame in ceremonies last week at the Elliott Hall of Music at Purdue University in West Lafayette. The pres- entation was made during the 63rd annual meeting of the bandmasters, which includes band directors and educators at all levels in Indiana schools.

In addition to teaching and conducting band music in Indiana schools for 37 years, Brane is also the founder of the Mississinewa Valley Band in Marion, which he organized in 2001 after he retired from teaching. He stepped down as conductor of that band three years ago, but continues to play tuba in the band.

He was reared in a musical family; his parents both played instruments. He began playing the baritone in fifth grade.

“I knew I either wanted to be a band director or a mechanic,” Brane said of his formative years. He is a

1954 graduate of the former LaFontaine High School, which has since been merged into the Southwood High School district of the Metropolitan School District of Wabash County.

He received his bachelor’s degree from the Jordan School of Music at Butler University in Indianapolis and his master’s degree from the VanderCook College of Music in Chicago.

He began his teaching and conducting career at the Oak Hill school system in Converse before moving to Avila High School in northeast Indiana. He returned to central Indiana when he taught at Hartford City and Taylor University in Upland.

His last move was to the Eastbrook Junior High School, where he remained for 22 years prior to retirement in 1995.

In addition to teaching and con- ducting, he was a founding member and first president of the Indiana State School Music Association. He continues to participate as a site manager and timer for the ISSMA state marching band contest annually in Indianapolis.

His home community honored him several years ago with the Outstanding Alumni award at Southwood and LaFontaine. He is also a recipient of the Tony Maidenberg Community Service Award, presented annually by Indiana Wesleyan University.