On Saturday, Aug. 16 at 6 p.m. in Sweetser Park of Amherst, under the direction of Dr. Timothy Todd Anderson, the Amherst Community Band perform their final town concert themed “band classics.” This is music specifically written for a concert band. Community bands have been part of American culture for decades. A community band concert was where everyone would gather to listen to their neighbors and family perform.
On a balmy summer evening, it is a joy to see the lawn at Sweetser Park filled with people sitting on lawn chairs, blankets, benches, and tree limbs watching the free concerts. What makes this special is how both the audience and band members are of all generations. After the concert, people mingle and meet neighbors they sometimes haven’t seen for years. As a member of this band, much gratitude goes to its conductor Dr. Anderson who understands not only how to choose the right music but how to work it up to an enjoyable performance. He researches and describes the music to the audience for everyone to learn something about what they will hear.
Playing in a community band brings the hope, expectation and possibility of being able to play music no matter what your age. But the best is yet to come! At the close of the performance season, having performed 30 pieces of music, the band members vote on their favorite 10. This becomes the final concert, a performance of our favorite music. This special concert will be performed Tuesday, Aug. 19 at the South Amherst common at 6 p.m. You could also order a barbecue chicken dinner to take out to the concert lawn through the South Church.
Judy Gutlerner
Amherst