They started as a minstrel show more than 70 years ago and played music all over Cincinnati and the region, blending a harmony of instruments: saxophones, trumpets, guitars, drums and pianos.

The group, known as the Withrow High School Dance Band until it changed its name to the Seventy Plus Band in 2001, will give a concert at 7:30 p.m., Monday in the amphitheater at the Evendale Community Center, 10500 Reading Rd., Evendale

The band plays regularly at the center at 1:30 p.m. on Thursdays.

Two members of the original band, started in 1932, are still in it: Pierson DeJager and Bill Pugh.

Earl Holland, 79, started playing with the band in the 1940s.

Bill Pugh, 89, plays "Strike up the Band' on his trumpet during band practice Thursday afternoon at the Evendale Recreation Center. Pugh started with the Withrow High School Dance Band in 1932 and is one of the two original members still at it. THOMAS E. WITTE/for the Enquirer

"I stopped playing for about 50 years and returned in the 1990s,'' said Holland, who was an executive at Holland Communications.

"The band is made up of businesspeople, professors and anybody who has an interest in music.''

Many of the members can talk about playing at such places as the Beverly Hills Supper Club (destroyed by fire in 1967); Lookout House, Moonlite Gardens at Coney Island, Topper Club, Castle Farm, Island Queen Riverboat and the old Albee Theater.

Harold Dimond, a retired organic research chemist, is director of the band.

"We bring back the days of the big band music, the swing music or dance music,'' said Dimond, 82.

"Most of us are getting along in age. We would welcome new people. They may call me at 563-2914 to join the band."

Joins society

Alyson Dempsey, a psychology major in the University of Cincinnati's Honors Scholars Program, has accepted membership in the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She is also the recipient of four UC academic scholarships.

The Indian Hill High School graduate is the daughter of Marcia and Clyde Dempsey of Indian Hill. Her career goal is to work as a pediatric clinical psychologist.

Boston College scholar

Kevin Hoskins of Greenhills graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in history from Boston College. He also was named a "Scholar of the College." The special designation is conferred at commencement upon exceptional seniors in the College of Arts and Sciences who have completed ambitious independent research in their field of study while maintaining a high grade-point average.

Hoskins' research project, "Race, Gender and Reconciliation in the Spanish American War," was deemed the most distinguished Scholar of the College project in the social sciences, and he was presented the John McCarthy SJ Award.

West Point cadet

Andrea Lauren Brock has accepted an appointment to the United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. The summa cum laude graduate of Mason High School received the Academic Letter Award, the Award of Merit and the Outstanding Student Award for AP Calculus.

She is the daughter of Esther Brock of Mason and Randell Brock of Norwood.

Well-traveled grad

Margaret Lawson has graduated summa cum laude from the University of Cincinnati's Honors Program with a double major in international affairs and French. She attended the Universidad de Sevilla, Spain, part of her junior year and had internships in Paris, New York City and Cincinnati.

A Fenwick High School graduate, she also attended high school in Morestel Lycee, Morestel, France as a Rotary foreign-exchange student. She is the daughter of Peggy and Jerry Lawson of Middletown.

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