Dexter Community Band Celebrates 30th Anniversary with Concert on April 29

The Dexter Community Band will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a special concert on April 29 titled 'Let's Dance!'

The concert will take place at 3 p.m. at the Dexter Center for the Performing Arts, 2200 North Parker Rd. The concert is free and open to the public.

The band will feature "Pineapple Poll," a suite from the ballet of the same name, written by Arthur Sullivan and arranged for band by Charles Mackerras. The band will also perform "Symphonic Dance Music" from West Side Story. This work includes a mambo, cha-cha and some hot jazz. Diane Telgen, the band's principal flute player, will perform "The Wren Polka" by E. Damare.

Other songs include "the Waltz" from the play Masquerade composed by A. Khachaturian, the Armenian dance "Armenian Dances," and selections from Glen Miller, including "In the Mood," "I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo," "Little Brown Jug," "Anvil Chorus," "Moonlight Serenade," "Serenade in Blue" and "At Last."

The Dexter Community Band began 30 years ago inspired by the desire of Chris Wall, the former director of Dexter School's Community Education program, to have a local town band. Dave Angus was the founder and first conductor of the band.

The band began with 14 musicians. In 1996 William Gourley became the conductor. The band has now grown to 85 musicians. The group has performed numerous free concerts through the years for many occasions. Concerts have been performed on a hay wagon, in tents and in eight European cities. Musicians include high school students, teachers, professional musicians, engineers, college professors, nurses, computer engineers and retirees.

For more information about the upcoming concert, call 734-426-2734.