Monday, September 17, 2018

Concord Band Celebrates 60th Season

Photo courtesy Daisy Design

Commissions and special guest soloists will highlight the anniversary season

By Peter Norton, Patch.com | Sep 16, 2018

The Concord Band, a community concert band based in Concord, Mass., is commemorating its 60th anniversary season from September 2018-July 2019. The Band was originally formed in 1959 as a marching band to participate in patriotic celebrations in the Town of Concord, Mass., but has been performing as a symphonic wind ensemble since 1970. The band typically plays about 15 concerts a year, mostly at the historic Performing Arts Center at 51 Walden in Concord and outdoor concerts at its summer home in Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, Massachusetts.

In honor of this special anniversary season, the band has commissioned a new fanfare by Emmy-award-winning composer Roger Cichy and a new major work by Andrew Boysen, Jr. both to be premiered at the Band's Winter Concert on March 2, 2019. These commissions will add to the Band's sponsorship of more than 80 new works and arrangements for symphonic concert band. Music Director James O'Dell has also programmed many musical pieces with special relevance to the Concord Band's long history for other concerts this season (especially the Fall Concert on October 20, 2018). Honorary Concord Band member and jazz vocalist Amanda Carr and American Idol alumnus John Stevens will headline the Spring Pops nightclub-style concerts on April 12–13. The Band is also working with the town of Concord to get involved with Patriots' Day celebrations for a special concert on April 15, 2019.

The Concord Band looks forward to celebrating its long history throughout the coming year. More details about the Concord Band's 60th anniversary season concerts will be posted on its website http://www.concordband.org as they are available.

The band is an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that gladly accepts any donations to help fund the costs of the 60th anniversary season at https://www.gofundme.com/60th-season-celebration. The Concord Band is supported by the Cultural Councils in Concord, Bolton, and Harvard.

Be sure to save the date for our "Celebrating Our Heritage" Fall Concert on October 20, 8pm at 51 Walden. The concert is open to the public and funded by donations.