The Emporia Municipal Band will present a Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Sunday, in the Granada Theater. The concert will be free and open to the public, with a goodwill offering for the Band, to help fund their summer concert series. Those who cannot make it can come to the rehearsal at 3 p.m. that day, organizers said.
Conductor Gary McCarty explains, “We held a similar concert several years ago, to benefit the Granada renovation project, and now that the theater has re-opened, the Granada Theater Alliance has offered to turn the benefit around, and help the Band’s funding.”
Last year, Emporia’s band budget was cut by 50 percent as part of the city’s budget reductions. In order to avoid cutting back on their summer concert performances, the Band needs to raise the balance themselves.
The program will include many seasonal favorites, including Christmas carols from England, Germany, and France, and Leroy Anderson’s “A Christmas Festival.”
“We perform a wide range of music,” said McCarty, “but we seldom get a chance to play the beautiful music from the Christmas season. It’s really exciting to be able to perform in the Granada. I’m hoping to see a great crowd on the 14th.”
jcwhit232 (anonymous) says...
I think that this is a great idea and I am looking forward to being there. My dad, Harvey Ray Fowler Sr. played the tuba in the City Band for years and I can remember as a child going to the park every Thursday night to listen to dad and the band play. It is a childhood memory that I will treasure forever and I hope that the band will be able to continue making memories for others for years to come.
December 12, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
I know that E.S.B. has donated so much for the city band and the park where the concerts are held but I would like to issue this challenge to Karen Sommers andJim Wayman. I will match your freewill contribution for this concert up to $1,000.00 . Regards
Steve Corbin
December 12, 2008 at 8:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
I take back my challenge. The Wayman family have given enough already and I thank them for wanting to make Emporia a better place in which to live. I will have a check for the city band Sunday.
Regards
Steve
December 13, 2008 at 6:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )