The Repasz Band will honor The Williamsport Scottish Rite Imperial Teteques Band with a concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 5, at the Scottish Rite Auditorium, 348 Market St., Williamsport.

Founded in 1897 and lasting nearly 120 years before disbanding in 2016, the Teteques were America’s first Masonic band, an article in Milton-based newspaper the Standard-Journal said. The ensemble emerged from an 1894 brass group nicknamed the “Triple Tongued Quartet”–later abbreviated to TTQ, or “Teteques,” as a monicker for the entire band.

An early Teteque supporter and benefactor was local businessman and sports-booster J. Walton Bowman–for whom Williamsport’s historic baseball field is named, the Standard-Journal noted.

“The Imperial Teteque Band played a variety of music including traditional marches, contemporary and classic compositions for concert band and wind ensemble, transcriptions of movie scores, novelty tunes, and patriotic arrangements,” said Williamsport Scottish Rite Business Manager and Events Coordinator Ellie J. Hubbard, according to the Standard-Journal. “Their original compositions influenced and impacted the musical world well beyond the region.”

While the band included both Masons and non-Masons of all ages, it was strictly an all-male ensemble until 2000. Among the women who joined was 62-year Repasz member Judy Shellenberger–who also serves as the Repasz business manager.

“I enjoyed the Teteque Band,” said 52-year Repasz trumpeter Philip W. Herfort, according to the Standard-Journal. “Especially since they were playing the same concert for three days in a row filling the Scottish Rite auditorium.”

Remaining concerts for the Repasz Band beyond Saturdays include: July 7, 6:30 p.m., Williamsport Home; July 10, 6 p.m., WeCare at Sycamore in Montoursville; August 2, 7 p.m., Brandon Park; and the Little League Parade on August 18.