Arlington Heights concert band to play seasonal sounds
The award-winning Arlington Heights Community Concert Band, in partnership with District 214 Community Education, will present its annual free holiday concert, "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, in the theater of Forest View Educational Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights.
Mike Madonia, the band's artistic and music director, chose traditional holiday music, such as Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride" with its famous whips clap and whinny. A surprise soloist will join the band to play this piece.
The concert also will feature pieces like "March of the Toys," "A Hanukkah Festival," "Christmas from the Fifties," "Christmas Vacation" and include an audience singalong.
The band is celebrating 40 years of making music and has four indoor concerts this season. Each concert will represent a decade of the band's history via a story in the program, a display of memorabilia in the lobby, and by playing a piece of music from the band's first concert season.
According to organizers, the holiday concert is usually a packed house, so reserve your tickets early. Admission is free.
Tickets are available at the District 214 Community Education office in the Forest View Educational Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; by calling (847) 718-7702 during the same hours; or by emailing ahccbtickets@gmail.com.
The band accepts tax-deductible donations to offset the cost of concert production, replacement instruments and new music.
About the band
The Arlington Heights Community Concert Band started with three musicians in November 1979 and has grown to more than 65 dedicated volunteer musicians of all skill level and ages. They are led by Madonia and assistant conductor Peter Piselllo.
Interested musicians are always welcome. Membership is open to anyone 14 and older who has experience playing a musical instrument. No audition is required and seat placement is at the director's discretion.
The band members have varied skill levels, from professional musicians to former high school and college musicians. Weekly rehearsals are from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesdays, usually at Forest View or a local district school. The first several rehearsals of each concert cycle allows time for potential interested musicians to "try out" the band.
The Arlington Heights Arts Commission honored the Arlington Heights Community Concert Band with its 2018 annual Cultural Arts Award, which celebrates achievements of artists or groups of artists in Arlington Heights who have created a substantial body of work in their field.
The band, which is in partnership with District 214 Community Education, receives support from both the Arlington Heights Park District and the village of Arlington Heights. For details, visit www.arlingtonheightsband.org.