The Auburn Community Concert Band, under the direction of Milt Simon, will kick off its annual summer series of weekly outdoor evening concerts at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 28, at Festival Plaza in downtown Auburn.

The performance is the first of 9 concerts scheduled for the Main Street location. The weekly free concerts will be held on Wednesday evenings through Aug. 23, weather permitting. There is no rain location this summer. In the case of inclement weather, that evening’s concert will be cancelled, and an announcement will be posted on the band’s website at auburncommunityband.com.

Founded by director Milt Simon in the Fall of 1981, this year marks the organization’s 42nd anniversary. The group has varied in size from 24 to over 50 members and this season’s 46 volunteer musicians range in age from late teens to early 80s, and collectively represent some 15 central and western Maine communities.

The members of this summer’s concert band are: FLUTE: Sharon Blodgett, Barbara Jabaut, Laura Malkin, Julie Mann, Barbara Odiorne, Carrie Palmer; CLARINET: Steve Allman, Kiani Camire, Denise Leavitt, Emily McCarthy, Patti Pelletier, Rick Rau, Louise Theberge; BASSOON: Hayden Pelletier; ALTO SAXOPHONES: Justin Fortier, David Griswold, Belinda Murchison, Nathan Titus; TENOR SAX: Angela Greenwald; BARITONE SAX: Meghann Bilodeau, Jason Toussaint; TRUMPETS: Dominick Cammuso, Elliott Epstein, Alisson Morin, Maurice Morin, Nancy Morris, Ronald Seguin, Mike Truchon; FRENCH HORNS: Kelly Bickford, Stephanie Burke, Paul Mann, Denise Tabet; TROMBONES: Sonny Begin, Mark Jacobs, David Lantagne, Chip Morrison, Tom Nelson, Mendell Patton; BARITONES: Hadley Blodgett, Jacob Patton, Marsha Stone; TUBAS: Gabrielle Cyr, Joshua Patton, Duncan Webster; and PERCUSSION: Laurie Swart, Mitch Thomas.

Simon stated that the organization “gives many individuals a chance to utilize musical talents neglected since their high school days, and the entire community benefits.” He added that the Auburn group “is one of the larger community bands in the state of Maine, and often attracts over 300 people to its weekly concerts.” The City of Auburn has partnered with the group since its inception.

Each Wednesday evening, the band will present a 75-minute program featuring popular hit songs from the 60’s through the present. Simon predicts that the group’s repertoire of songs will appeal to audiences of all ages. “If you have a favorite song that’s been heard on the radio or in the movies, chances are good that our band will perform it sometime during the upcoming 9-week concert series,” Simon said.

People planning to attend any of the Wednesday evening concerts at Festival Plaza should bring their own lawn chair, and are advised to arrive well before the start time, as large audiences are again expected this summer. Ample free parking is available in the parking garage located across the street from the Plaza. Portable toilets have been located alongside the garage for use by the band’s weekly audiences.

For more information, visit the band’s web site at auburncommunityband.com.

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