See you at the army band concert Wednesday

I hope this is nothing more than a useless reminder because hundreds of people already have planned to attend the free concert at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Parkersburg High School Field House to hear the 65-piece Army Concert Band and 29-voice Soldiers' Chorus.

Sponsored by The Parkersburg News and Sentinel, those wishing to attend need to be seated by 6:45 p.m. as there is no reserve seating. Unlike previous concerts sponsored by the newspaper, tickets are not needed for this event since the field house has a large seating capacity.

PHS students Cassie Brown, Rebecca Cooper, Elliott Clark, Britton Dudley, Emily Cramer, Katie Quillen, John Bolton and Conner Nesselroad will be singing with the Soldier's Chorus.

Paige Hughes, piccalo; Codey Siers, tuba; Darcy McDougle, horn; Bobby Wolfe, trombone; Jason Dehaven, trumpet; Hyland Markle, percussion; Tyler Cunningham, percussion; Emily Tingler, percussion; Gabby Frontera, clarinet; and Donovan Kelly, baritone, will be performing with the Concert Band.

The concert will feature a wide variety of music, but also will include a tribute to the various military branches, which always draws a huge response from veterans, their families and supporters.

According to the army, "The Concert Band is the oldest and largest of the Field Band's four performing components. This elite 65-member instrumental ensemble, founded in 1946, has performed in all 50 states and 25 foreign countries for audiences totaling more than 100 million. Tours have taken the band throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, the Far East and India.

"The group appears in a wide variety of settings, from world-famous concert halls, such as the Berlin Philharmonie and Carnegie Hall, to state fairgrounds and high school gymnasiums. The Concert Band regularly travels and performs with the Soldiers' Chorus, together presenting a powerful and diverse program of marches, overtures, popular music, patriotic selections, and instrumental and vocal solos. "

"The Soldiers' Chorus, founded in 1957, is the vocal complement of the United States Army Field Band of Washington, D.C. The 29-member mixed choral ensemble travels throughout the nation and abroad, performing as a separate component and in joint concerts with the Concert Band of the "Musical Ambassadors of the Army." The chorus has performed in all fifty states, Canada, Mexico, India, the Far East, and throughout Europe, entertaining audiences of all ages.

"The musical backgrounds of Soldiers' Chorus personnel range from opera and musical theatre to music education and vocal coaching; this diversity provides unique programming flexibility. In addition to presenting selections from the vast choral repertoire, Soldiers' Chorus performances often include the music of Broadway, opera, barbershop quartet, and Americana.

"This versatility has earned the Soldiers' Chorus an international reputation for presenting musical excellence and inspiring patriotism."

It should be one heck of a concert .... hope to see you there!