Oak Ridge Community Band plans for live July 4 concert

 

The Oak Ridge Community Band plans to return to a traditional live, in-person concert schedule beginning with its annual July 4 concert this summer.

The Independence Day concert is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. July 4, before the City of Oak Ridge fireworks display. The band will perform at A.K. Bissell Park behind the Oak Ridge Civic Center at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“Like other area musical organizations, the Community Band was unable to perform in-person concerts this past year due to the pandemic,” a press release said. “However, band members are now looking forward to entertaining the public on July 4, which is special for the band as this date marks the 77th anniversary of the band’s very first concert on July 4, 1944.”

The July 4 concert this year will also mark the Community Band’s first in-person performance since February 2020, the press release said. Other concerts after July 4 will be the August 1 Back to School concert, the Labor Day concert on September 6, and the Halloween concert on October 31. All these concerts will be held in A.K. Bissell Park. A Christmas Sing-Along concert will be held in December at the First Baptist Church.

The Oak Ridge Community Band is directed by Shaun Salem, and the summer outdoor concerts include a variety of music including patriotic numbers, marches, popular songs, and contemporary pieces.

All ORCB concerts are free, but in lieu of admission, ORCB gratefully accepts donations to help defray band expenses, the press release said. Although ORCB has been unable to perform in-person concerts during the COVID-19 pandemic, the band still has expenses, and donations are greatly appreciated. ORCB is a 501(c)3 organization, and your tax donations may be tax deductible, the press release said. ORCB also participates in the Amazonsmile and Krogercare programs.

The public is encouraged to check the Oak Ridge Community Band website at www.orcb.org for the 2021 performance schedule and other information including the opportunity to donate via PayPal. Contributions can also be mailed to ORCB, P.O. Box 6980, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6980.

In addition to the band’s website, the public can get current information by going to ORCB’s Facebook page at www.facebook/OakRidgeCommunityBand.

Interested area musicians who would like to join the band can contact ORCB through the ORCB website, by email at oakridgecommunityband@gmail.com, or by phone at (865) 202-2773. Rehearsals for the July 4 concert will begin on Thursday evening, May 27, at 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church.