AUBURN — The Auburn Community Concert Band, under the direction of Milt Simon, will kick off its annual summer series of weekly outdoor evening concerts at Festival Plaza on Wednesday, June 14.
The 7 p.m. performance is the first of 10 programs scheduled for the Main Street plaza. The free concerts will continue weekly on Wednesday evenings through Aug. 16, weather permitting.
If inclement weather is forecasted, the band will perform at The Dolard and Priscilla Gendron Franco Center, 46 Cedar St., Lewiston, with one exception.
If an indoor concert is needed June 21, that performance will be in the Community Little Theater auditorium on Academy Street in Auburn.
The public is advised to visit the band’s website for up-to-date information on concert locations and programs.
This year marks the 36th anniversary since Simon first organized the group. The 43 volunteer musicians participating this summer range in age from 12 to 91, and represent 16 Maine communities.
Simon said the organization “gives many individuals a chance to utilize musical talents neglected since their high school days, and the entire community benefits.”
Each week, the band will present a different theme, featuring popular songs from the past 50 years. To please audiences of all ages, many new songs were added to the band’s repertoire this spring, Simon said.
People attending performances should bring a chair and arrive well before the the concert starts. Ample free parking is available in the parking garage across the street from the plaza.
FMI: auburncommunityband.com.
Schedule of programs and themes
June 14: Forgotten but Unforgettable, an evening of music nostalgia under the stars.
June 21: American Idols, including songs from the Beatles, Sinatra, Stevie Wonder and Michael Buble.
June 28: Songs that Bridge Generations, a selection of hit tunes that are popular with all age groups.
July 5: An Evening of Patriotic Music
July 12: It’s Showtime! showcasing popular songs from the stage and the large screen.
July 19: “Let’s Dance,” featuring five decades of dancing music.
July 26: The Voice, featuring hits by Elton John, Ray Charles, Neil Diamond and Paul Simon.
Aug. 2: Legends of Rock, including still-popular tunes by Kansas, the Doors, Journey, and Queen.
Aug. 9: Gone Too Soon, remembering stars such as Michael Jackson, James Brown, Whitney Houston, and Elvis.
Aug. 16: Auburn Community Concert Band’s Greatest Hits, featuring some of the band’s favorite songs from the past 35 seasons.
Band members
Flute: Susan Gayle, Barbara Jabaut, Carrie Palmer, Kellie Pelletier, River Stickney, Jackie Woods.
Clarinet: Kiani Camire, Denise Leavitt, Dorothy LeClair, Emily McCarthy, Patti Pelletier, Rick Rau, Louise Theberge, Patricia Varney.
Bassoon: Casey Arsenault, Hayden Pelletier.
Alto saxophone: Mary Briggs, Kerry Gould, David Griswold, Kyle McLellan.
Tenor sax: Angela Greenwald.
Baritone sax: Jason Toussaint.
Trumpets: Ivan Boudreau, Elliott Epstein, Stephen Lobley, Jill Longstaff, Alisson Morin, Maurice Morin, Nancy Morris.
French horns: Stephanie Burke and Katrina Guignard.
Trombones: Ben Barr, Sonny Begin, Margaret Berry, Fred Fahlsing, Chip Morrison, Tom Nelson.
Baritones: Dennis Marenius and Jason McVille.
Tubas: Mike Gamache and Duncan Webster.
Percussion: Dan Leclair and Laurie Swart.
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