Fort Community Band performs final concert of season Monday

The Fort Atkinson Community Band will perform its final concert of the summer season, according to information released by Band Director Wayne Crook. 

The concert, featuring “summer favorites,” will take place Monday, Aug. 15, at 7 p.m.

The concert series is held at the bandshell in Fort Atkinson’s Barrie Park. Admission is free and chairs will be set up near the shell. Concert-goers may also bring their own lawn chairs and blankets. 

Concerts will be canceled in the event of rain. 

For the final concert, the release stated, “music from each of the five summer concerts was chosen by the audience and band members.” 

The program will feature a vocal octet organized by Jim Athas. 

According to the release, the vocalists will sing three selections with band accompaniment. Among the selections is “From Sea To Shining Sea,” based on the melody “America the Beautiful.” 

In addition, the release continued, two tunes are in the style of the “Modernaires,” of the big band era. They include: “I’ll Never Smile Again/Dream Melody” and “It Don’t Mean A Thing (if it ain’t got that swing).” 

Members of the octet include Jim Athas, Steve Swanson, Craig Engstrom, Aaron Athas, Barb Athas, Rachel Goreki, Kiah Snow and Katie Fortney.  

Band member Al Kent will perform a solo on the euphonium of “Danny Boy,” and Gwen Hurtz will sing “Over The Rainbow” with band accompaniment, the release stated.  

The complete program includes:  “Ukrainian National Anthem,” “Star Spangled Banner,” “From Sea to Shining Sea,” “Tribute to Marvin Hamlisch,” “Danny Boy,” “I’ll Never Smile Again,” “Sound of Music,” “Over The Rainbow,” “Downtown,” “It Don’t Mean A Thing (if it ain’t got that swing),” “New York, New York,” “Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame” and “Stars & Stripes Forever.” 

Band members include: Vicki Daniels, piccolo; Kim Apel, Mariah Eichenburg, Kara Menzel and Vicki Daniels, flute; Zach Oster, Mary Bensen, Jonah Guzman and Zach Gurney, clarinet; Maddick Klaver, bass clarinet; Paul Brady, Melody Martin, Emmet Fettig and Myra Schwarz, alto saxophone; Rebecca Kallal, Evan Jensen and Stacy Knox, tenor saxophone; Adrian Pierce, Connor Jensen, Jim Jackson, Judy White, Lou Larsen and Michele Arduengo, trumpet; Andrea Haffelder, Kris Curren, Rebecca Lewis and Samantha Mallin, French horn;  Tom Cook and Al Kent, baritone; Lisa Amacher, Steve Lehr, Steve Smith and Karle Goodman, trombone; Jordan Nelson, Charles Haugen, Jeff Bickle and Ron Bauer, tuba, and Jerry Sterken and Bill Wilson, percussion.

Arriving by bicycle, a couple finds seating atop a decorative wall near the bandshell in Barrie Park during a summer concert held last year. File photo/Kim McDarison. 

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