Bands to perform Sunday

By Donnie A. Lucas

The sounds of Christmas will be featured at the annual Albany Christmas Band concert on Sunday starting at 4:00 p.m. with the high school band in the high school auditorium.

The seventh grade band will follow at 4:45 p.m., with the sixth grade band students concluding the program with their selections starting at 5:30 p.m.

The concerts are again divided into three sections to allow students and parents to chose the band they want to hear and not have to attend all three unless they want to, according to director William Vaughan.

“Dividing the bands during the concert with separate start times was used during COVID-19 to reduce exposure, but eveyone liked reducing the congestion backstage and in the auditorium when groups change,” Vaughan said. “We hope people will come for all three concerts, and there will only be a very short break in between.”

Each group will play two seasonal pieces and one concert selection.

The high school band, which includes the eighth grade, will present “Christmas Grace,” “Sleigh Ride,” and “Armed Forces March.”

The seventh graders will play “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” “Spirit of St. Nicholas,” and “The Tempest.”

The sixth grade band has prepared “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas,” and “Ode to Joy.”

The high school band will once again dress in “ugly” Christmas sweaters to add to the festivities.

The public is welcome to attend the concerts.