Next Sunday: Free Labor Day concert by the Oak Ridge Community Band
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
The Oak Ridge Community Band will hold its third summer concert on Sunday evening, Sept. 3. Although we are calling this performance our Labor Day concert, please note that this event is on the Sunday before Labor Day. The decision was made to change our Labor Day concert to the preceding Sunday so that school students would not be out late the evening before a school day.
Director Shaun Salem has planned an entertaining program of familiar and popular songs that the audience will enjoy hearing, including Jack Bullock’s arrangement of “Henry Mancini at the Oscars” with “The Pink Panther,” “Charade,” Le Jazz Hot!”, “Dear Heart,” and “The Days of Wine and Roses.” The band will also perform “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” which made recently deceased singer Tony Bennett famous when he sang it on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. Among the songs on the Sept. 3 program will be a fun tune, “Piccolomania” written by composer Cecil Karrick in honor of flutist Audrey Stelson, who has been an Community Band member for 57 years. Stelson joined joining the band when former band director Steve “Doc” Combs was hired to reorganize the band for Oak Ridge’s 25th anniversary celebration.
The clarinet section will be in the spotlight on the Sept. 3 program, performing Leroy Anderson’s fast-paced “Clarinet Candy,” featuring clarinetists Kristi Younkin, Dave Greenwood, Eric Greenup, Janet Townsend, Jenny Lindsey, Steve Hirshman, Sandy Hirshman, Sarah Heaton, Tammy Keever, Ashton Hicks, Susan Hall, and Barbara Gritzner.
Back by popular demand will be the Dixieland Jazz Band featuring London Asquith on trombone, Chris Dodson on tuba, Dale Disney as drummer, clarinetist Sandy Hirshman, and trumpet player Jim Hix as they play Jared Spears’ “At a Dixieland Jazz Funeral,” accompanied by the band. And to top off this exciting Sept. 3 program will be another audience delight – Jay Dawson’s arrangement of “Tennessee Salute” with excerpts from “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Wabash Cannonball,” Chattanooga Choo Choo,” the beautiful “Tennessee Waltz” and every University of Tennessee Vol fan’s favorite song - “Rocky Top!”
The Sunday, Sept. 3 performance will be held at 7 p.m. in A.K. Bissell Park, and the public should bring chairs or blankets for outdoor seating. There is a paved area for wheelchairs, and Razzleberry’s Ice Cream Lab will provide cool refreshments. The band’s summer concerts are free and provide a wonderful opportunity for family and friends to enjoy a casual and fun evening of great music.
The Community Band meets every Thursday evening at the First Baptist Church for rehearsals, and interested area musicians are welcome to join and should call 865-202-2773 for more information. The public is also encouraged to check the band’s website at www.orcb.org and the band’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OakRidgeCommunityBand.
Barbara Gritzner is the longtime pubicist and a clarinet player for the Oak Ridge Community Band.
This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Free Labor Day concert by the Oak Ridge Community Band on Sunday
