Since 1959: Northport Community Band returns with Thursday concerts in Village Park

The Northport Community Band’s free, live and much-loved concerts are back, with performances each Thursday evening in Northport Village Park, beginning July 4.

Continuing every Thursday through August 1, the concerts, in the Robert W. Krueger Bandstand, will once again feature the marches, show tunes, light classics, solo features and novelties the Northport Community Band has been performing since 1959.

The schedule is as follows:
July 4: “Families and Flags on the Fourth” with guest conductor Helen Bauer of the celebrated Northwinds band, the winner of the Northport Community Band’s first annual Student Solo Competition; the Armed Forces Salute with American Legion Post 694; and patriotic favorites.

July 11: “Comedy Tonight” (pre-concert with Jack Daniel’s Original Silver Cornet Band) with guest conductor Eric Mahl of the Northport Symphony Orchestra and salutes to Spike Jones, PDQ Bach (a fictional composer created by the American composer and musical satirist Peter Schickele), and more musical mirth.

July 18: “Long Ago and Far Away” (pre-concert with The Northport Chorale) with guest conductor Caitlin Mallon of the North Shore Schools; the Northport Chorale with Director Matthew Ho;  and a special opportunity for young people in the audience to conduct along – can you keep up with Brahms?

July 25: “Blues in the Night” (pre-concert with Northport Community Jazz Orchestra Big Band) with guest conductors Vickie Henson and Andy Isca, euphonium soloist Laura Fallon and 120 years of jazzy band music.

August 1: “Cannons and Kids” (pre-concert featuring the Northport-East Northport school district’s GET SMaRT summer student ensembles) with guest conductors Taylor Massey of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and Izzet Mergen of the Northport Schools, and the NCO’s traditional 1812 overture with cannon.

Pre-concerts begin at 7:45pm in Northport Village Park. The main concert begins at 8:30pm. Concerts will be moved to Northport High School (except for July 4) if weather is inclement. Announcements will be made beginning at 3pm on the band’s website. Sign up for instant updates by sending an email to e82cbb@mail.remind.com or texting @e82cbb to 81010. All concerts are also live-streamed and archived at www.facebook.com/NCB1959. 

Bring a can to the concert: Non-perishable food donations are accepted every week, and each item is worth a raffle ticket for valuable prizes.