Long past due is a complete and accurate history of what has meant so much to the ethnic pride and religious happenings in very Italian East Utica, starting, as best we know, as far back as 1905--Utica's Italian band. The task will not be easy since there are no surviving records of meeting minutes, and only an occasional scrapbook, and generally, very little to comprehensively provide the necessary clues to resurrect the early progress of the band. Still, the importance of such a history sufficiently warrants an attempt to pursue it. Thus, the research phase is already in process and, when compete, is expected to clarify some of the many unknowns regarding what currently is La Banda Rossa . Below are some things we now know:

As the Italian population grew in East Utica--that part of the city in which the overwhelming majority of immigrant Italians settled--so did the number of Italian celebrations, mostly religious. Some of the musical organizations in the city at the time were Bergner's Military Band, the Old Utica Band, Rath's Military Band, the Utica Separate Company Drum Corp., Schremp's Brass Band, White's Band, and the Germania Band. None was aligned with Italian interests, clearly defining a need for such a musical group. Thus, in 1905, several Italian musicians banded together to answer that need, creating what was known as the Italian Band. It used an address of 104 Broad Street, very close to Mohawk Street, which was the home of its conductor, Bernardino Benecasa, his surname sometimes shown as Benincasa. Finally, the growing Italian population had its first band, devoted to enhancing its parades, feasts, funerals, and other events, so important to indefatigable efforts of immigrant Italians to transplant in Utica some of the cultural and religious events experienced in Italy.

Although records are sketchy, it's believed Professor Benecasa continued with the band until about 1911 or 1912. After that, both the band and its conductor disappeared from local listings.

It wasn't until 1919 that a Professor Giuseppe Martino's name appeared as a music teacher in Utica. His home was at 740 Elizabeth Street, and according to at least one source, a mid 1930s clarinetist, Paul Cardarelli, Martino was indeed conductor of what was then known as the Red Band, La Banda Rossa , which one would reason was a continuation of the Italian Band. Cardarelli recalls: Professor Martino was the only conductor of the Red Band that I remember. In fact, he was my music teacher for the clarinet. His “studio” was a garage behind his house on Elizabeth St. He was a quiet type music person with the long hair. His wife taught solfeggio (reading music). As a student, she sat down with you and you would read the do re mi's for her and the beat, etc. As I recall, lessons were either 25 or 50 cents. Another ‘30s era band musician recalls that Martino's lessons were $5.00 per month for lessons four days per week.

La Banda Rossa , as was the Italian Band, at first was exclusive to men who played as much for their own pleasure as they did in celebration of events associated with their Italian heritage. But as the Italian population grew, so did the demands on the band, and other bands emerged--the Green Band and the White Band. Together, the three--Red, Green, and White Bands--covered the colors of the Italian flag, so one can assume that the names were not selected at random. It wasn't until the late 1960s that the Red Band admitted its first women, Donna DeRosa, who played baritone horn.

Following the conductorship of Professor Martino circa 1945, which by the way was the longest in the history of the Red Band, came Professor Roberto Lalli, a tailor and a music teacher, who held the position of conductor until 1960. His reputation was that of a very good conductor with a bit of a temper.

The next decade, the 1960s, saw a diversity of directors to include Frank Galime and Philip Scalise, along with an indication that a very accomplished composer of classical and operatic music, Michale Annunziata, also held that post. However, it's not believed that Annunziata, who was well into his 60s and who had achieved both national and international recognition of his classical and operatic compositions would have taken on the busy responsibilities of band leader, but, he may have assisted in some other musical capacity. And, although not herein mentioned by name, during all of the band's history, there were many who performed in the distinguished position of capobandi or leader of the parade.

In 1970, Anthony Spina began a 21-year reign as conductor of La Banda Rossa , sidelined in 1991 for medical reasons. Enter, Arlene Iagnacco--a student of the flute and piccolo--who even as a child aspired to becoming a Red Band member as she walked along with the band at some of its many parade appearances. It wasn't until the 1980s that her childhood dreams were fulfilled when she was asked to join the group as one of its musicians. And when Anthony Spina's health required he permanently step aside, Arlene was more than capable and willing to take on the difficult position of director with its many musical and administrative responsibilities. Now, more than a dozen years later, she remains awed by the heights to which she has risen in an organization once exclusive to males.

Today, as in the past, the Red Band performs at a variety of religious and ethnic affairs, mostly but not entirely with an Italian theme. And while the band continues to perform primarily in Utica and substantially for Italian events, it has had engagements elsewhere, in nearby Syracuse and in Boston, Toronto, and even at the New York State Fair, frequent1y for other than Italian festivities, adding all types of music to its' repertoire. In Utica, a Columbus Day observance without inclusion of La Banda Rossa , was and still is profoundly incomplete. And the same could be said for their appearances at such popular, long­time feasts as La Festa Santa Rosalia , always held on Mohawk Street north of Bleecker Street, and La Festa Santi Cosma e Damiano , further east on Bleecker Street, and so many others, all with the same audience enthusiasm expressed in the formative years.

Currently, still under the capable direction of Conductress Iagnocco, the band prospers with as many as 35 appearances per year to include an annual pavilion performance at Chancellor Park to commemorate Italian Day--part of the Heritage series of the Utica Monday Nite summertime events.

Indeed, La Banda Rossa is an important element in Utica's musical history. While the group's name, its conductors, the capobandi , and the musicians have many times changed over the years, the band has maintained and expanded its professional aura, always with an unmistakable attachment to its Italian purpose.