The Mercer County Symphonic Band presents its annual winter concert on Wednesday, December 19, at 8 p.m., at Kelsey Theater, on the West Windsor campus of Mercer County Community College. Admission is free.
The band includes many musicians from the West Windsor and Plainsboro area. They include John Roeder, Mike Davis, Dave Halter, Tony Traviglione, Marty Timins, Jim Yeh, Annette Sheldon, Jessica Julius, Danielle Guarracino, and Birgitta Cagan. Another band member, Tony Pappalardo, is the retired band teacher from High School South.
The program includes a variety of seasonal favorites, contemporary, classical and pops selections, and traditional marches. Included are “Pictures at an Exhibition” by Mussorgsky, selections from the movie “ET,” works by contemporary composer Clifton Williams and pops composer Leroy Anderson, and a swing medley of Benny Goodman hits. The evening ends with the band’s traditional seasonal sing along.
Under the direction of Lou Woodruff, the band is celebrating its 32nd season with 60 participating musicians, spanning seven decades in age. Woodruff, who is completing his 12th year as director, also teaches psychology at Bucks County Community College and serves on the governing board of the National College Testing Association. He shares the podium with Gary Suabedissen, another retired band teacher, who also plays flute in the band.
The band is open to all interested musicians without audition. Through focused weekly rehearsals, members of the band are challenged to improve their individual technique and apply their group performance skills in the recreation of a wide range of musical compositions. The band performs at Kelsey Theater and accompanies the Mercer College graduation ceremony. Performances also include community events, holiday celebrations, and other venues open to the public.
Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., from September through June. Musicians are invited to sit in a rehearsal and continue to participate if they feel a connection with the music and the group. For information about the band, contact Woodruff at woodruff@bucks.edu or visit www.MercerBand.org.
