Press Release

Concord Band Begins Two-Year 50th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, October 27th

Concord, MA — The Concord Band will open its 2007-2008 season at 51 Walden Street in Concord with its Fall Concert on Saturday, October 27, 2007, at 8:00 p.m. This concert will mark the beginning of a two-year celebration leading to the Concord Band's 50th anniversary concert in March of 2009. During this celebration the Band will program a number of its most outstanding commissions.

The Concord Band has an unusual record among community bands for the number of new works commissioned by such distinguished composers as Norman Dello Joio, James Curnow, Warren Barker, Stephen Bulla, Julie Giroux, and Elliot Del Borgo. In 2009 the Band will release a CD dedicated to these pieces. In addition, the Band has commissioned a major new work for symphonic band by composer Roger Cichy in honor of the Band's 50th anniversary. This new work will be premiered at the 50th Anniversary Concert in 2009.

The very first work commissioned by the Concord Band was Satiric Dances by composer Norman Dello Joio. This work was commissioned in commemoration of Concord's Bicentennial of April 19, 1975, for the Concord Band, and was funded by the town of Concord. Satiric Dances has since become a staple in the concert band repertory. In this concert, the Band will perform Satiric Dances as well another major work for concert band by Dello Joio, Scenes from the Louvre. The Band will also present the Concord Band commission, Dichotomy...Impressions of Kerouac, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the publication of Jack Kerouac's great beat generation novel On the Road. This work was composed for the Concord Band by University of Lowell composer Daniel P. Lutz and was premiered in 1997.

The Concord Band has always also distinguished itself by featuring outstanding soloists from within the Band. In this Fall concert, Westford resident Jean Munro will perform Stephen Bulla's Rhapsody for Flute with the Band.

The program will begin with Fanfare for a Festive Day by Roger Cichy, and will also include On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss by David R. Holsinger, tunes from Rossini's An Italian in Algiers, and Spirit of Flight, a new work for concert band by John O'Reilly, recently commissioned by the United States Air Force Academy Band, Lt. Col. Steven Grimo, Commander.

The concert begins at 8:00 PM in Concord's Performing Arts Center at 51 Walden Street. Tickets are $10 at the door ($5 students/seniors). For more information, visit the band's website at www.concordband.org or call (978) 897-9969.

Westford resident Jean Munro will be featured as flute soloist in the Concord Band’s Fall Concert at 8:00 PM on Saturday, October 27 at 51 Walden St., in Concord. Tickets are available at the door or by calling (978) 897-9969.