Leader of the Symphonette

Once the wheat is harvested and the combines are put away on the Montana farms around Scobey (pop. 1,082), Jack Reiner calls for the Prairie Symphonette to start rehearsals.

“The most unique thing about the orchestra is that the majority of the players are from farm families,” says Reiner, who has to plan performances around the area’s farming schedule.

The affable, 74-year-old retired mortician is one of the founders of a unique group of musicians who play in one of only two volunteer symphonies in the state. The volunteer orchestra draws players from four surrounding counties and all walks of life—students, teachers, business professionals and, of course, farmers.

Some drive 140 miles across the rolling prairie—sometimes through the snow—to practice and play. “It’s a small, struggling, rural community that still has a dream,” he says.

Reiner’s own musical dream began at age 11, when he started playing in his family’s dance band. In the 1960s, he taught music in nearby Flaxville (pop. 87) and has taught strings to symphonette members for more than 25 years. Even today, he’s still driven by a love of music.

“There’s a challenge that fuels you a bit. (The symphonette has) had high points and low points, but we keep going,’’ he says.

The spark that ignited the unique symphony more than a quarter century ago was a chance conversation at a Sunday dinner after church. The late John Stentoft asked who played the violin sitting on Reiner’s piano.

“No one,” Reiner told him, “but it’s mine and I like to play on it.” The following Sunday, Reiner went to Stentoft’s home and the two played a few hymns. “John and I were just very inept,” Reiner recalls, “but we were having fun.”

The duo later asked violinist Marlys Farver, now the symphonette’s principal violinist and concert mistress, to join them. Then Nathan Rodning, the teen-age son of the Lutheran Church’s new minister, joined them on bass. With three violins and a bass, Reiner says the instrumentation was out of balance, so he offered to learn the cello. The quartet then began playing at churches and around town.

“We were well received,” Reiner says. “That fueled us to go on to better things.”

Better things meant giving a few high school students music lessons. “It wasn’t long until we had a string ensemble,” he says. “Then it became obvious that if we added brass, reeds and percussion we could have an orchestra of a sort.

“It’s still an orchestra of a sort,” he chuckles.

By 1977, the Prairie Symphonette was confident enough to hold its first concert. With practices on Thursdays at Scobey High School (more often if they were scared), the 40 musicians performed every spring, fall and Christmas, a tradition that continues today.

The symphonette binds the town even as it draws together an unlikely group of musicians, from eighth graders to 80-year-olds. Farver says the concerts are festive, dress-up affairs, with decorations in the performance hall.

Because the symphonette—and its audience—are so eclectic, the orchestra performs a varied musical selection—from classical compositions to rock ’n’ roll, and Broadway show tunes to the Beach Boys.

The symphonette has never charged admission, although the group does take donations. Likewise, the music lessons Reiner gives are free.

“He’s the grandfather of the group,” Farver says of Reiner. “He’s never charged a nickel for the kids he’s taught. And he works five nights a week (giving lessons).”

Payment for Reiner comes in the form smiling graduation photos that line his bookcase, a testimonial to the appreciation of former students.

Further proof came on July 7, 2002, when more than 50 past and present players from across the country came to Scobey to celebrate the symphonette’s 25th anniversary. More than 1,000 people attended the event at the high school.

“It was a wonderful sight,” Reiner recalls, “just wonderful.”

Brett French writes for The Billings Gazzette.

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