The Auburn Community Band presents outdoor concerts at 7 p.m. every Wednesday during the summer at Festival Plaza in Auburn.

Community band invites new members

AUBURN – January marks the Auburn Community Band’s annual open-membership period. All musicians who wish to take part in the band’s summer outdoor concert season have until the end of January to join the group and start participating in their weekly rehearsals.

Due to some recent changes in the group, the band has an immediate need for flutes, tenor saxophones, trumpets, French horns, tuba players and percussionists who can read music.

The 46-member band meets every Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. Rehearsals take place at the High Street Congregational Church, located between High and Pleasant streets. Musicians must have their own instrument and music stand, and must be able to commit to the weekly schedule of Wednesday evening rehearsals and concerts.

From June through mid-September, the community band presents outdoor concerts at 7 p.m. every Wednesday. The 75-minute performances take place at Festival Plaza in downtown Auburn, weather permitting.

A different selection of music is featured each week. This summer’s slate of free concerts has tentatively been scheduled to begin on June 11 and run through Aug. 20.

Band members range in age from 15 to 82. Collectively, the organization represents 15 central and southern Maine towns.

Before joining, many of the group’s volunteer musicians had last played their instruments some 20 to 40 years ago. Because of that, according to band director Milt Simon, “people are often nervous when they first join our group, but they typically regain their musical skills within a short period of time.”

Simon added that the opportunity to perform weekly in front of audiences averaging 400 people in size is appealing to most musicians.

The new season marks the Auburn Community Band’s 27th year under Simon’s direction. Interested musicians are asked to call Brian Hodges, band president, at 375-6312 before attending the first rehearsal. For more information, visit the band’s Web site at www.auburncommunityband.org.