MONROE — A local music group has been providing the sweet and triumphant sounds of brass instruments to Monroe area residents for more than 45 years, and its leader and founder said he is not about to quit now. 

“We do a lot of playing around town and we just love it,” said Bill Lanz, 86, of New Glarus, founder, and leader of the Monroe Brass Quintet.

The band, he said, is a labor of love for the residents of Green County and beyond and its music has provided the backdrop for literally hundreds of events throughout the years — events large, small, and in-between. 

Weddings. Church services. Celebrations. Community events — the band has played them all.

Its member lineup has changed many times over the years, but Lanz has been there since he got the idea to start the band. It came from a desire to continue playing brass instruments long after the high school or college band days were over.  So many people learn these instruments in school but never bother to pick them up again, he said.

“Not many can keep playing after school band,” said Lanz. “I wanted a way for us to keep playing these instruments, to keep the music alive.”

Current members of the Monroe Brass Quintet are Lanz, on euphonium, Fred Moritz, trumpet, Claire Cook, trumpet, JoEllen Moser, French horn, and Eric Amweg, tuba. Its repertoire features religious music, pop standards and classics, Broadway show tunes, classical pieces, and Christmas music.  The holiday music is a favorite for Lanz, he said.

Practice typically happens one a week at a local church, where the acoustics are good and the horns can ring out without disturbing any neighbors. They all are serious about the music, Bill said, but still manage to enjoy each other’s company and have a great time.

Among other gigs, the group provides the music for the annual “Lunch with Santa” event at St. Victor’s, a favorite gig for the band, as they get to see the joy of Christmas on kids’ faces each year.

“I’m grateful to all of the people who have played with us over the years,” said Lanz, who especially enjoys Christmas music. “There isn’t a lot of other things I would rather do than play in the band, and it’s gotten to be routine for us now over the years.”

The group is strictly voluntary and unpaid — although sometimes a free-will offering is had, and they take the occasional donation to keep the band up and running.

“I never thought it would last this long,” said Lanz, adding that he has no plans to quit anytime soon. “It keeps us young to be out and playing.”