66°
LEICESTER, Mass. — The Leicester Town Band closed its summer season of concerts on Sunday with one last hurrah on the town common, playing the final show before many of its members head back to school.
Formed in 2008, the band draws together musicians of all ages and levels of experience, ranging from Leicester High School students to seasoned performers.
"I'm a music teacher and give music lessons, so for me to be able to perform in a concert band setting is great," said Karla Walter, who along with her husband Kurt has been involved in the band since its beginning.
Kurt Walter, an engineer by trade, said he simply enjoys the opportunity to get out and play with the band.
"This is just an outlet to play some music and have some fun," he said.
Additionally, the Walters said the mix of musicians also allows for an opportunity to get to know different people from the community.
This was one of the draws for Samantha Baker, of Spencer, who has played saxophone with the band for the last three years.
"I've made some new friends," said Baker. "It's a lot of fun. The rehearsals are relaxed, everybody has a good time. We try to get it as perfect as we can, but it's not strict and there's a lot of joking around. There's also a lot of fun music-playing."
As word of mouth has spread over the years, the band has continued to grow, adding a full range of concert instruments and taking on new arrangements.
Information about joining the band next year or booking performances is available on the Leicester Town Band website. The band can also be followed on Facebook.
Additional schedule 2012 performances include:
• Saturday, Sept. 29: Leicester High School Homecoming
• Sunday, Oct. 7: Oakham 250th Anniversary Parade
• Saturday, Dec. 15: Old Sturbridge Village, Christmas and holiday music
Comments