AUBURN — The month of January marks the Auburn Community Concert Band’s semi-annual open-membership period. This is an ideal opportunity for former high school and college band members to once again experience the enjoyment of performing for others.
All musicians who wish to participate in the band’s upcoming summer concert performances have until Jan. 24 to join the group and start participating in weekly rehearsals.
The 46-member concert band would particular like to add members to its alto sax, clarinet, French horn and tuba sections. They are also in need of a bass clarinet and percussion and drum set players who can read music. Membership requires limited conflicts with the group’s weekly schedule of Wednesday evening rehearsals and concerts. Musicians must have their own instruments and music stands.
From January through early June, band members rehearse every Wednesday evening, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the High Street Congregational Church in Auburn. From mid-June through late August, the band presents weekly Wednesday evening concerts. These free 75-minute performances take place at Festival Plaza in downtown Auburn, weather permitting. In the case of inclement weather, concerts take place indoors at the Gendron Franco Center in Lewiston. A different selection of music is featured each week. The anticipated dates for the 2018 summer concert series are June 13 through Aug. 15.
This summer will mark the organization’s 37th consecutive season. Director Milt Simon formed the group in 1981 to offer musicians, who had once been members of their high school and college bands, an opportunity to continue using and improving their performance skills. Members of the ACCB currently range in age from 14 to 88, and represent some 16 central Maine towns. Membership is open to anyone knowing how to play a wind or percussion instrument.
More than 450 people were in attendance at the band’s Dec. 20 holiday performance, which took place at the Gendron Franco Center in Lewiston. Following the concert, audience members donated more than $1,385 to the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign. Both attendance and donations were the highest numbers ever achieved at this annual event.
Interested musicians are asked to call Simon at 207-782-3917 prior to attending their first rehearsal. Additional information about the group is posted on the band’s web site, www.auburncommunityband.com.
Auburn Community Concert Band performs in 2016. (Auburn Community Concert Band photo)
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