The Salem Community Band and Choir are presenting it’s summer concert this Saturday and Sunday at the Salem Community Theatre.
The theme is tunes from animated shows and movies. Show times are seven Saturday night and three Sunday afternoon. Admission is $5.
Debbie Woodruff says this is the most “family friendly” show since the community band was reincarnated in 2018.
“The music is fun and all recognizable. We designed this one to be the most family friendly concert we have put on to date. We are hoping everyone will bring their kids and grandkids and dress as their favorite animated characters and sing along to all of their favorites.”
The chorus is under the direction of Franklin Park Band Director Andrew Steininger.
“We’ve got about 40 members of the choir this time around of varying talents, shapes, sizes and ages. In fact we have members of the choir who used to be in my middle school band who are now high schoolers in band and choir. We have members who were in choir when they were in school back in the day now they’ve come back and want to be in the choir again. Now that they are retired and want to get back into music.”
Iuka Band Director Matt Webster is leading the band.
“We are doing a big Disney overture which blends in many of the older themes that you might remember, and then we will recap When You Wish at the end. The big numbers for the piece are Frozen, we are doing a medley, and the Incredibles. Those are the ones the band is really excited about. They really challenge us but also show what we can do.”
The band has grown from 25 members in 2018 to 57 today. She notes most of the original members are still playing. There are six new members since the Christmas show with new members coming from South Central, Centralia and Mt. Vernon high school areas as well as Salem. Woodruff says members come from Indiana, Northern Illinois as well as Missouri.
Practice for this show began three months ago with members getting together bi-weekly.
Several school band directors are part of the Salem Community Band. Here they are practicing a number they will perform together this weekend. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
