According to the "Jefferson Times," the formation of the Jefferson Community Band was                                  announced  on February 2, 1967, under the direction of "Professor" Howard Voorhies.                                       Growing up in Opelousas  around the turn of the century, Voorhies gained experience with                               community bands as a member of the Opelousas Town Band, actually conducting it once at                             the age of 9.  With a past as State Supervisor of Music, Band Director at USL, (now University of                         Louisiana at Lafayette), band director in the Orleans Parish School System, conducting an American Legion Band as well as various jazz and dance bands in the area, he became the first band director at the newly formed Archbishop Rummel High School in 1963.
 

After a few years, several band parents suggested to Professor Voorhies that he start an "Old Timers Band" for parents who once played in band and still enjoyed playing music. The first Jefferson Community Band included 12 men and women who were adult, non professional musicians. Among the founding members were Cyril Usner, the father of then Rummel student and now current band member Ed Usner,  three of the teaching brothers on the staff at Rummel, other parents of boys in the Rummel band, and the school secretary. The band practiced in the Rummel Band Room, and later with full funding from Jefferson Parish, at Jefferson Playground, then  Cleary Playground and membership was opened to the general public.  Concerts were usually held at various shopping malls, and in the summer, a "Pops" series was held with a concert every week.

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                           After Professor Voorhies' retirement in 1976 ,  Ione Rasmussen became the director. A very                                 progressive woman, she performed with the all girls bands the Victoryettes and Rhythm                                     Maids during WWII,  while also attending Loyola School of Music, where she obtained her                                 bachelors degree, and ultimately her masters degree in music education.  She first became                              a band director in the Jefferson Parish public schools, then retired to raise her children. She joined the Jefferson Community band in 1969, originally as a clarinet and saxophone player.  Later she returned to teaching, and from 1971 until 2006, was the band director at Ridgewood Prep. Under Ione's direction, the band began to have concerts once a month, performing at various churches, parks, nursing homes, shopping malls, Magnolia School, with all concerts continuing to be free to the public. 

                          

                            In 2006 the baton was passed to our current conductor, Joe Berthelot. A New Orleans                                        native, Joe is a  retired Jefferson School System band director, having taught at several                                      schools during his tenure. Prior to taking the reins, he also was a member of the band,                                        playing baritone with us for many years. The band still has as its mission the providing of                                    free live music for citizens of Jefferson Parish, with a  special focus on the underserved. We continue to have a concerts at various churches, at the Bucktown Marina on the lake, the Magnolia School, and the Jefferson Eastbank Regional Library.  

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