Auburn Community Concert Band Submitted photo

The Auburn Community Concert Band will present its annual holiday concert at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at the Donald M. Gay Performing Arts Center located inside Edward Little High School in Auburn. This will be the community concert band’s first-ever performance at this Auburn venue.

The group, under the direction of Milt Simon, will give a 75-minute performance featuring both traditional and contemporary songs celebrating the Christmas and Hanukah holiday seasons along with the customary audience sing-along.

Continuing a tradition which began over four decades ago, those attending the concert will have an opportunity to make a donation to a local nonprofit organization. This year, all money collected following the concert will be presented to the High Street Food Pantry, which is held weekly at the High Street Congregational Church in Auburn.

Small’s Greenhouse in Auburn is providing poinsettias to decorate the large stage. Immediately following the evening’s performance, attendees will be able to purchase these plants with all proceeds also going to the High Street Food Pantry.

This season’s 49-member concert band is comprised of volunteer musicians from 15 central and western Maine communities, who range in age from 16 to 80-plus. Current members of the concert band are: FLUTE: Sharon Blodgett, Olivia Grallert, Barbara Jabaut, Julie Mann, Barbara Odiorne, Carrie Palmer; CLARINET: Steve Allman, Kiani Camire, Bill Galbraith, Denise Leavitt, Deb Leonard, Heidi McCarthy, Patti Pelletier, Rick Rau; BASS CLARINET: Eileen Messina; BASSOON: Hayden Pelletier; ALTO SAXOPHONE: Justin Fortier, Dave Griswold, Colin Marquis-Boutin, Nathan Titus; TENOR SAX: Angela Greenwald, Annabeth Treadwell; BARITONE SAX: Meghann Bilodeau, Jason Toussaint; TRUMPETS: Dominick Cammuso, Elliott Epstein, Josh Lampron, Nancy Morris, Ronald Seguin, Mike Truchon; FRENCH HORN: Kelly Bickford, Stephanie Burke, Paul Mann, Denise Tabet; TROMBONES Sonny Begin, Mark Jacobs, Noah Lampron, David Lantagne, Chip Morrison, Tom Nelson, Mendell Patton; EUPHONIUM: Jacob Patton, Marsha Stone; TUBAS: Josh Hofferberth, Joshua Patton, Duncan Webster;  and PERCUSSION: Keileigh Belanger, Laurie Swart, Mitch Thomas.

The concert is free and open to the public. The auditorium can seat 1,200 attendees. Edward Little High School is located at 77 Harris St., Auburn. For questions regarding the Performing Arts Center, call the High School at 207-333-6652. For more information regarding the concert, visit the community band’s web site at auburncommunityband.com.