AVB Community Band Concert

315 3rd Street,De Pere WI 54115

16 November, 2022

Description

The AVB Community Band is proud to announce that its next concert of the 2022-23 season will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the iconic Walter Theatre in the Abbot Pennings Hall of Fine Arts, 315 3rd St., at St. Norbert College (SNC) in De Pere. "We Believe in America: Music That Brings Us Together" is the theme of this very special evening of music honoring America and America’s Veterans, featuring the 75-member AVB Community Band which will be joined by popular local vocalist Sarah Saari. This is the first time the AVB Community Band (formerly the Allouez Village Band) has performed at the Walter Theatre. As Mike Ajango, director, put it, “Magic happens at the Walter Theatre,” which has been home to many important community performances, including the SNC Summer Music Theatre. "I'm looking forward to conducting my first concert at this grand venue. There’s not a bad seat in the house,” he said. Doors to the Walter Theatre open at 6 p.m. As always, the evening is free, with donations accepted following the concert. Members of American Legion Post 11 in Green Bay will be in attendance to help welcome guests and post the colors. The family-friendly concert is sponsored by Hansen Family Funeral and Cremation Services, a longtime supporter of the AVB Community Band. Paul Oleksy is associate director of the AVB Community Band, which is in its 41st season. Narrator for the concert is Bruce Deadman. A note: A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase in the lobby prior to the concert for a chicken dinner being served at the Riverside Ballroom following the AVB’s “Music of the Big Bands” concert there on Sunday, Feb. 19, from 2-4 p.m. Tickets are $13.00 each. The Wednesday, Nov. 16, concert will begin with “The Star-Spangled Banner (A Symphonic Portrait),” featuring Saari, who has also sung the National Anthem at Lambeau Field. Following will be “The Battle Cry for Freedom,” which was wildly popular during the Civil War and for decades after. Saari will join the band on “Hymn to Freedom,” considered jazz pianist and composer Oscar Peterson's most significant composition. It was written in 1962 and embraced by people over the world as the anthem of the Civil Rights Movement. A memorable video tribute to America’s veterans and fallen heroes — created by Brent Hussin, AVB Community Band president and manager — will be accompanied by the music of “Arlington (Where Sleeping Giants Lie)” composed by Paul Murtha. The first half of the show concludes with Saari joining the band in Ira and George Gershwin’s “‘S Wonderful” and the band performing Irving Berlin’s “Songs of America.” After intermission, Saari and the band will treat the audience to “Our America,” featuring “Yankee Doodle,” “You’re a Grand Old Flag'' and “This Land is Your Land.” The band follows with a rousing performance of “March from 1941,” from Stephen Spielberg’s comedy “1941.” “You Raise Me Up,” made famous by Josh Grobin, will also be performed by Saari. “Purple Mountain Majesty (America the Beautiful)” will be followed by the AVB Community Band’s tribute to veterans during “Armed Forces ‘72.” The concert concludes with retiring of the colors, followed by a performance of the original Kate Smith version of “God Bless America,” performed by Saari and the band. Over the last 20 years Ajango has been involved in numerous SNC Summer Music Theatre productions, both as a performer and part of the crew. "I probably know every square inch of the Walter Theatre. On stage. Backstage. Above stage. Below stage. Scene shop. You name it," says Ajango. His favorite production may have been “Phantom of the Opera,” he said. He has also performed at the Walter Theatre in dozens of concerts as a member of the Dudley Birder Chorale. "Dudley is a good friend and a great inspiration to me. He was still conducting and directing into his 90s. I've got another 25 years of work to do if I am going to catch him," quipped Ajango. For more information, see the band’s website at avbcommunityband.org. —————————— Mark your calendars: The AVB Community Band’s Monday, Dec. 12, concert titled “We Believe in Glad Tidings: Music for the Holidays” will be performed at the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts on the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay campus. Doors open at 6 p.m. The concert begins at 7 p.m. and is sponsored by Bellevue Family Dentistry. Donations will be accepted following the concert. The AVB Community Band will also host its annual collection for Paul’s Pantry in Green Bay in the lobby prior to the concert. This collection is one of the most important on-site collections of the year for Paul’s Pantry. Thank you in advance for your generosity!