Mahoosuc holiday concert slated

BETHEL — The Mahoosuc Community Band will have its annual Holiday Concert Sunday, December 9 at 4 p.m. at the West Parish Congregational Church in Bethel. The band has added new selections to the holiday concert.

These include "Flourish for Wind Bands" by R. Vaughan Williams featuring the trombone section and French horn and "Benny Goodman: The King of Swing" arranged by Paul Murtha. Naturally the concert includes traditional favorites, "A Christmas Portrait" arranged by Jerry Nowak, "A Christmas Festival" by Leroy Anderson, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Silver Bells."

The humorous "Cowboy Christmas" arranged by Jeff Simmons will delight all ages. And this includes "Sleigh Ride" by Leroy Anderson, a community favorite. Refreshments following the concert allow time to visit with the musicians. Donations help with music and instrument purchases and ongoing costs to run the volunteer community band.

The band has been bringing music to the greater Bethel area for 20 years. It was formed to share music when SAD 44 music program was eliminated for a few years, as a cost-saving effort. Since then both the SAD 44 music program and the Mahoosuc Community Band have grown. The community band now includes people from Hanover, Rumford, Dixfield, Waterford, Woodstock, Greenwood, Bethel, Albany and South Paris. It’s a group of people of all ages who just enjoy making music together.

The group rehearses Monday nights from 7 to 8:45 p.m. at the West Parish Congregational Church in Bethel. They start rehearsing January 7, after the Christmas break. School musicians are encouraged to join the Monday night rehearsals and enhance their Middle School or High School music programs. The band plans a spring concert in May before the summer performances. New members, or old-timers who may need to dust off their instruments, are always welcome.

Contact Patricia Boyle-Wight, director, (824-8453 or PPBoyleWight@Ants.edu) or Kathleen DeVore, president, (875-2364 or katdev@aol.com) for more information.