Concert band Veterans Day performances
The Willamette Valley Concert Band will present its annual Veterans Day Concert twice at the Lebanon High School auditorium. 1700 S 5th St., Lebanon.
The first performance will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, and the second will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12.
The concert, which lasts about 90 minutes, is free and open to the public.
The band will present a wide selection of music appropriate for marking the annual Veterans Day Commemoration.
The Lebanon High School Choir, directed by Eric Zittel, will join the band and sing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “Our America” and “Pride of America: Armed Forces” featuring the official songs of the U.S. Armed Forces. The choir will also sing Irving Berlin’s “America” with patriotic songs written by Irving Berlin and accompanied by the band.
Other selections will include “An American Spectacular,” a medley of American patriotic songs from the time of the American Revolutionary War through World War II; “Band of Brothers,” featuring music from the sound track of the TV miniseries “Band of Brothers;” as well as traditional marches “Americans We” by Henry Fillmore and “Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Philip Sousa.
The Willamette Valley Concert Band, a community ensemble based in Albany, was formed in 1970. Its membership includes some 50 musicians ranging from teens to senior citizens, from Benton, Linn, Marion and Polk counties. The band director and assistant director are, respectively John Russell, a professional trombonist who has recently moved to Oregon, and Julie Buchert, a long-time band member and retired middle school band and choir director.
Program Announcer will be Terry Deacon, prominent Lebanon resident and Vietnam Vet who served as a Gunners Mate in the Tonkin Gulf aboard a fleet oiler.
Donations are gratefully accepted. The money will be used to defray costs of presenting the program and a portion will go to the Lebanon High School music program.
The concert is part of the Linn County Veterans’ Day Celebration. For further information go to www.wvcband.org and on Facebook.