Playing the clarinet has soothed J. Clarence Bowers' soul for 85 years — and even now, at age 95, the music continues.

"Playing with the (New Holland Band) keeps me young," Bowers said. "I enjoy being in an organization with so many young people and older talent. I enjoy the fellowship."

Bowers' love of the clarinet began when he was 10 and heard Grace Evangelical Congregational Church's Sunday school orchestra perform.

"This inspired me, and my dad purchased a clarinet for me," said Bowers, who still has his original clarinet and another wooden clarinet he got in high school.

He joined the Sunday school orchestra five years later. At age 50, Bowers became the orchestra's leader and led it until he was 86.

The Sunday school orchestra was not the only group Bowers performed with.

Bowers played in the reed band directed by his clarinet instructor, Amandus Stetler, who had played with the Sousa Band.

"We played an annual concert every year at the YMCA auditorium in Lancaster," Bowers said. "(Stetler) had me memorize and play a solo each year. I recall playing a solo called Puritano, which was black with 64th notes. It was a difficult solo and I know I am no longer in shape to repeat that solo anymore."

In his early years, Bowers also played in the Lancaster Municipal Boys Band, the 103rd Medical Regimental Band and New Holland Little German Band.

He is a former member of the New Holland Dance Band and has substituted in bands such as the Ringgold Band, Lancaster City Band, Bainbridge Band and Lancaster Symphony Orchestra.

When his older brother, Lester, who played trombone, organized a small orchestra called the Little Symphony Orchestra, a teen-age Bowers was right there to add clarinet to the sound. The Little Symphony Orchestra played weekly 30-minute concerts on Lancaster radio stations WJKC and WGAL.

He also played for Lancaster Bible College musicals, ensembles and operettas and was a private music instructor for several students, including one who went on to become Michigan State University's music supervisor and another who started an orchestra of his own.

Bowers, a life member of the New Holland Band, has performed with this group for 63 years and continues as the oldest member of the band — playing 25 concerts every year and rehearsing each Tuesday evening.

Bowers said he has fond memories of New Holland Band's 1974 trip to Switzerland and France and playing beneath the Eiffel Tower.

His next concert with the band will be at New Holland Community Memorial Park at 7 p.m. Saturday, celebrating Independence Day.

Bowers said he practices about an hour most days.

"You have to keep up your lip," he said. "But I don't play nearly as good as I did at one time."

While Bowers enjoys playing all kinds of music — from classical to popular to religious to Dixieland — his favorite piece is John Philip Sousa's march, "Stars and Stripes Forever."

Bowers said playing music helped him relax when he was working in banking.

"I was a workaholic. I was wearing two hats — branch manager and commercial lending manager — with 50 people working under me," Bowers said.

"I put forth the best effort in everything I do; I don't go halfway," he said.

Looking back, he wonders how he found time to keep up his musicianship during those busy years. But he's glad he did.

"Music really does something for a person," he said. "It helps resolve the pressure you can be under. I forgot all of the pressure when I played the clarinet."

E-mail: lvaningen@lnpnews.com