Mahoosuc Community Band to present Christmas Concert

Mahoosuc Community Band members prepare for the upcoming Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 11, at 4 PM at the Bingham Auditorium at Gould Academy in Bethel. From left are Jan Whitworth, Scott Hynek, Jim Chandler, Kathleen DeVore and Steve McCosh. Submitted photo

The Mahoosuc Community Band has been practicing Christmas music since September and their Christmas Concert is planned at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11, in the Bingham Auditorium at Gould Academy in Bethel. A snow date is planned for the following day, Monday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. Mahoosuc Community Band will be joined by Gould Academy music students and is under the direction of Jim McLaughlin. The exciting part of this change in venue and conductors is the intergenerational sharing of music between adults and Gould students.

The concert is filled with traditional favorites and newer melodies. The concert includes “Shephard’s Air” by William Goff, “Christmas from the ‘50s” arranged by Douglas Wagner, “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” arranged by Larry Kerchner, “Celtic Carol” arranged by Robert Smith, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” arranged by Carl Strommen, “My Favorite Things” by Rogers and Hammerstein and arranged by Robert Buckley, “Ukranian Carol of the Bells” by Leontovich Wilhousky and arranged by Sean O’Laughlin, “Away in a Manger” arranged by Chip Davis, “A Christmas Portrait” arranged by Jerry Nowak, “Solstice Dance” by Jack Wilds, and the Mahoosuc Community Band’s concert wouldn’t be complete without “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson.

The community band rehearses Monday nights at the Gould Academy music room in Bethel from 6:45 p.m.-8:30 p.m. The band resumes rehearsals Jan. 9. New members are always welcome. The opportunity to enjoy music lasts through the years. Many members played in high school and stopped. The group encourages less experienced musicians to share the love of music.

For more information contact Scott Hynek, band president, at [email protected]