Press Release: Concord Band will play at Fruitlands

The Concord Band at Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, Mass.

CONCORD.  The Sudler Award-winning Concord Band will play at Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Road, Harvard, for the 30th year beginning at 7:15 p.m. June 18.

Music director Jim O’Dell and the band honor the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War with a theme of The Blue and the Grey. In addition to a medley by that name, O’Dell has chosen Civil War era “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “Marching through Georgia,” as well as “Ashokan Farewell.”

The band will play selections from its Holiday Pops programs June 25, including Alfred Reed’s Russian Christmas Music.

The band’s traditional Independence Day concert will be July 2 at Fruitlands and at 3 p.m. July 4 at Emerson Playground in Concord. The July 9 Fruitlands concert features selections from Broadway musicals that became movies. These include Oklahoma, The Sound of Music, 1776 and Les Miserables.

On July 16, there will be dance music under the stars, including music of Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Johann Strauss, Henry Mancini and George Gershwin. The 30th season ends July 23 with a Summer Retrospective that includes highlights from previous concerts.

In the event of rain, Fruitlands concerts are canceled. Parking is $15 with proceeds benefiting the Concord Band and Fruitlands. The July 4 concert will be held at 51 Walden St. in Concord in the event of rain.

For information: 978-897-9969 or fruitlands.org.

Summer Season Schedule

2015 Fruitlands Summer Concert Series
Fruitlands Museum, Harvard MA
Thursdays at 7:15 pm

June 18

The Blue and the Grey—Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War

June 25

A Winter for Summer Festival—Music from the Concord Band Holiday Pops

July  2

America the Beautiful—A Patriotic Celebration

July  9

From Broadway to Hollywood—Musicals that became Movies

July 16

Dancing Under the Stars—Celebrating Dance Classics

July 23

A Summer Retrospective—Audience and Band Season's Favorites

Read more...

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Harvard Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

2015 Picnic in the Park
Emerson Field, Concord MA
Saturday, July 4, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

We play at 3:00, but come down early and enjoy all of the other activities! This event is rain or shine. Rain location is The Performing Arts Center at 51 Walden Street, Concord, MA.

Spring Pops 2015 with the Concord Band & Vocalist Amanda Carr

Submitted to The Concord Journal

The Concord Band traditionally has been sponsored in the two evenings of their Pops Concerts by the Concord Rotary and the Emerson Hospital Auxiliary.  This year, the Saturday night performance was the sole domain of the Concord Band, and they hosted a wonderful, spirited evening of entertainment with the magically-effervescent Amanda Carr as vocalist on some time-honored favorites. This was truly a night to remember.

In true Pops fashion, there were marches by John Phillip Sousa and Karl L. King, satisfying in their dynamic control and pitch-perfect execution. There were old time favorites including Turkey in the Straw, a traditional tune set in a quirky and entertaining new motif by a Concord Band favorite, Lewis Buckley, currently director of the Metropolitan Wind Symphony.  The Dixieland combo featured in Tailgate Concerto was spot-on perfect in their interpretation of traditional New Orleans style jazz numbers.  A Tribute to Spike Jones is a lighthearted romp, featuring a very different type of cymbal solo, performed with great humor and aplomb by long-time percussionist Buck Grace.