The 152nd season of the Arkansas City Community Band begins tonight 7:30 p.m. at the Wilson Park Rotunda.
The Arkansas City Community Band is made up of community members from high school age and up under the direction of Chris VanGilder.
Melodie Parman is the secretary/treasurer and Alicia Kerwood serves as assistant conductor, according to VanGilder.
The band began rehearsals in mid-May in preparation for the coming season.
The band will hold concerts on Thursday nights at 7:30 through July 6, plus a special concert on July 4th.
“With the help of Fred Flanigan, each concert is sponsored by local businesses and organizations to provide hotdogs and other treats at each concert,” VanGilder said. “In addition, the entire season is dedicated to the memory of Donna Louderback, whose memorial has allowed the band to make much needed additions to their music library.”
Concert goers are encouraged to bring their own seating, park benches are limited.
“Rehearsals have gone very well and we have a big group, so I am really looking forward to having great concerts this year,” VanGilder said. “Throughout the season the band will play a wide variety of concert band music. We try to get a little bit of everything: patriotic, marches, hymns, folk songs, Broadway and movie themes, pop tunes and lots more.”
