The concert is free with donations appreciated, but because of the anticipated interest in the concert, all tickets must be reserved in advance at www.ticketstage.com/concordband. At this time, only about 100 tickets are available, so those who would like to attend this concert should make their requests as soon as possible.
Andrew Boysen of the University of New Hampshire has been commissioned to write a piece he has titled Diamond Jubilee Suite. The three movements are intended to represent the character and musical impact of the three music directors of the Concord Band: the late Music Director Laureate, William Toland, Music Director Emeritus McManus, and current Music Director James O’Dell.
Roger Cichy, who composed a piece for the Band’s 50th anniversary season, returns with a commissioned fanfare entitled Emblazoned Joy.
Other works on the celebration program include Alfred Reed’s A Festival Prelude, conducted by William McManus; and Five Concord Diversions, by James Curnow, commissioned for William Toland’s 25th anniversary with the Band, featuring a Concord Band brass quintet. The concert will close with Toland’s arrangement of Auld Lang Syne, during which Concord Band alumni in the audience will be invited to join in the performance.
Formed in 1959 as a marching band for the Patriots’ Day parade, the Concord Band became exclusively a symphonic concert band in 1970. The Band has commissioned or inspired more than 80 works for symphonic band.The Concord Band is supported by grants from the Town of Concord and Town of Bolton Cultural Councils, and the March 2 concert is sponsored in part by Middlesex Savings Bank. More information about the Band and the March 2 concert can be found at the Band’s Facebook page and website www.concordband.org. 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 on the website or at https://www.gofundme.com/60th-season-celebration.
