AHCB Hall of Fame

About the AHCB Hall of Fame

The After Hours Community Band has created a Hall of Fame to celebrate the longevity and success of our all volunteer organization. The Hall of Fame provides a mechanism of recognition to the people fueling this success.

Each year inductees are announced at the annual meeting and formally recognized at the Spring Concert. Members of the Hall of Fame are recognized on the band website and receive a commemorative plaque.

Criteria for the AHCB Hall of Fame:

Nominees must be sponsored by a current AHCB member.
Nominee must have been a member of the AHCB for at least 10 years.
Nominee must have taken an active role in the leadership of the AHCB such as (but not limited to) board of directors, section leader, committee chair, musical contribution, etc.
Nominee may be a current active member of the AHCB.

How to nominate

Nominations are may be made via this online form.

Nominations for the 2025 class of the AHCB Hall of Fame are due by September 30, 2025.

Class of 2024

Our four 2024 Hall of Fame inductees continue the story of the After Hours Community Band. Leslie Chilson was an original member, holds the record for longest participation in the band (almost 40 years and counting), and set the visual style of the band. Carol Commerford has been one of our conductors since 1987, has decades of volunteering on committees and was instrumental in some of our unique community outreach programs. Judy Lord was an original member, created our music library and served as Band Librarian for over 30 years. Ron Pettus was an original member, did important behind the scenes work to establish the band and embodied the humor of the band’s culture. These four individuals helped establish the band, its community presence, and its culture. Their enthusiastic sharing of time, energy and talents ensured the band thrived.

Class of 2023

Our three inaugural Hall of Fame inductees truly tell the story of the After Hours Community Band. Sandra Stoeckel had the vision, is our Founding Conductor, and has been one of our artistic leaders for over 35 years. Bob Lord was an original member, our first Band President, and was a key leader in defining our philosophies and getting us organized. René Sanders was the Band Secretary for 23 years. And, as performance committee chair for much longer than that, she was instrumental in establishing relationships across the community, defining, and doing the behind-the-scenes work needed to successfully put on 20+ concerts a year. These three individuals set the stage for what has made our Band unique – all-volunteer, musically strong, with a focus on outreach to the community through a wide variety of concerts and an emphasis on having FUN. And they set the example for all of us by volunteering their time, energy and talents in numerous ways to make this band successful.

Leslie Chilson: Euphonium & Horn; Member 1986-Present; Hall of Fame Class of 2024; Leslie Chilson has been with the After Hours Community Band since before it was a band, holds the record for longest participation in the band (almost 40 years and counting), and set the visual style of the band. Continue reading...
Carol Commerford: Flute & Conductor; Member 1987-Present; Hall of Fame Class of 2024; Carol Commerford has been one of our conductors since 1987. She played a role in the band’s incorporation, has decades of volunteering on committees, and initiated some of our unique community outreach programs. Continue reading...
Judy Lord: Flute; Member 1986-2020; Hall of Fame Class of 2024; Judy Lord was also a founding member of the band, in the Flute section, created our music library and served as Band Librarian for over 30 years. Judy was part of the Spring 1986 Parkway band class, with her husband, Bob. Continue reading...
Robert Lord: Drums & Percussion; Member 1986-2010; Hall of Fame Class of 2023; Bob Lord was an original member, our first Band President, and was a key leader in defining our philosophies and getting us organized. Bob, an engineer by day, led efforts to conceive and build the structure of the band. He led much of the transition from an Adult Education Band Class to the After Hours Community Band that we know and love. Continue reading...
Ron Pettus: Baritone & Tenor Saxophone; Member 1986-2016; Hall of Fame Class of 2024; Ron Pettus was an important organizer for the band, especially for the legal side of things: charter, bylaws, incorporating with the state of Missouri and acquiring not-for-profit status. But his influence was often behind the scenes. Continue reading...
René Sanders: Flute & Bassoon; Member 1986-2022; Hall of Fame Class of 2023; René Sanders was the Band Secretary for 23 years. And, as performance committee chair for much longer than that, she was instrumental in establishing relationships across the community, defining, and doing the behind-the-scenes work needed to successfully put on 20+ concerts a year. Continue reading...
Sandra J. Stoeckel: Trumpet & Conductor; Member 1986-2024; Hall of Fame Class of 2023; Sandra Stoeckel had the vision, is our Founding Conductor, and has been one of our artistic leaders for over 35 years. Sandy, a trained musician and music educator, had a vision of a “western St. Louis metro” – based community band that would provide an opportunity for amateur musicians to start playing in a band again.Continue reading...