Mcdowell High School Alumni
Erie, Pennsylvania (PA)
Penny Skidmore (Penny Fairfield)
Mcdowell High School
Class of 1967
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PENNY'S PROFILE
| First Name | Penny |
| Last Name | Skidmore |
| Maiden Name | Fairfield |
| Graduation Year | Class of 1967 |
| Gender | Female |
| Current Location | Fort Worth, TX |
| Hometown | Erie, PA |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| About Me | If any of you remember, all I wanted was to become a professional musician. This dream began in 3rd grade when a music store salesman was demonstrating musical instruments at our elementary school (Ridgefield Elementary). He said that colleges were looking for female bassoon and trombone players, so getting a scholarship into a good music college would be easier. Since I couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time, I thought "HOORAY" , I could handle an instrument without any keys. (Little did I know back then that a trombone is one of the most difficult instruments to play well BECAUSE there are no keys.) I decided then and there I wanted to play trombone, get a Phd in performance and graduate from Eastman School of Music. In 6th grade Mom sat me down and asked if I had any desire to play an instrument in the band. Well, you can guess my response; Mom sat there with her mouth hanging open. "When did you decide all this?" she asked. To make a long story short, I did become a professional musician--it was my avocation, not my profession. I was the first female to audition and be accepted into the Air Force Band Program when it was opened to women in the Equal Opportunity Act. I performed all over the U.S. and Alaska. In the 1990's I had one of 3 all-female big bands in the U.S. (1 in CA, other in NY). The Sweethearts of Swing was comprised of 16 instrumentalists plus 3 vocalists. We not only played music from the big band era, we had costumes, routines, etc. I trained the younger women how to apply makeup for that era--what a fight (one gal's husband had never seen his wife of 12 years with any makeup...well, baby was born 9 mo later), I sewed costumes, designed and painted music stands, etc.. My husband not only researched, arranged and transcribed much of the music, he handled legal matters, trained the women the art of the 1930-40 music style, led rehearsals, and conducted the shows. We traveled over TX and Ark. (I learned why Ina Rae Hutton said forget all-female bands and returned to male bands (1930-40's)). The International Women's Brass Conference invited me to perform with them in Las Vegas for their initial conference and I was nominated as a Pioneer advancing the equality of women in the field of music. My husband of 50 years (2018) has been very supportive of me as he, too, is a professional musician. He was manager of my band, and we unitedly had several bands from combos to big bands, pit orchestra bands, etc. I believe the pinnacle of our shared musicality, was being invited to NY for orchestral recording sessions for 3 years. I guess you could say I became a professional musician. NOW, our past 18 yrs have had a different turn of endevour. We care for over 30 unadoptable cats--now 80% of them are senior citizens. We house them, feed them, care for their vet bills, and love them---all at our expense. How much longer we can do this only time will tell. My husband's job was downsized last year so we had an 80% cut in income. We now are trying to survive on Social Security. A Go-Fund-Me account was setup for assistance in their care, it netted us $10. As I say, only time will tell, at 70 who knows what the future brings. Ah, well, I didn't graduate from Eastman with a Phd, but I did graduate from the School of Hard Knocks and...(read more) |
Class of 1967 Alumni
→ Reunite with 159 class of 1967 alumni that have joined.
Lisa Barone
Class of 1984
Eric Buetikofer
Class of 1999
Mary K Fitzgibbon
Class of 1972
Mary Graves
Class of 1993
Anna Szwec
Class of 1977
Rachel Rapp
Class of 1987
Bobby Holmes
Class of 2012
Joy Dabbs
Class of 1965
Jim Spinks
Class of 1987
Linda Woodward
Class of 1975
Gary Semon
Class of 1983
Rose Chludzinski
Class of 1979
Teri Spallanzani
Class of 1979
Jeff Raubenstrauch
Class of 1993
Kimberly Meyer
Class of 1982
Hilary Ponikvar
Class of 2001
Elmer Staublein
Class of 1950
Deborah Agnew
Class of 1978
Recent Class of 1967 Reunions
Plan a Class of 1967 Reunion for Free
Claoof of 1974 Class Reunion
Invited Classes: All Classes
Date: Aug 10, 2019
Description: E-mail mcdowellclassof1974@gmail.com to update contact information. Any question contact Janet Cook DiSantis at jdisanti...(read more)
McDowell Class of 1967 Reunion
Invited Classes: 1967
Date: Aug 12, 2017
Description: Attire: Dressy Causal
45Year Class Reunion
Invited Classes: 1967
Date: Aug 18, 2012
Description: Saturday August 18th, 2012 ElPatio Motel Dinner 7:00 Reservations are due by August 12, 2012 Donna Unger Straub 833-4...(read more)
Class of 67
Invited Classes: 1967
Date: Aug 18, 2012
Description: Donna Unger Straub and Olga Deak Zeiner are organizing the reunion this year, Please update your address and e-mail ad...(read more)
All-Year Reunion for Longfellow Elem. School-Erie, PA
Invited Classes: All Classes
Description: Informal attire is fine. This is open to anybody whoever attended Longfellow Elem. School. Call or e-mail me for more de...(read more)