JAMESTOWN – Several performances are gearing up for a summer season filled with music at the Goranson Band Shell in Allen Park.
City of Jamestown Parks, Recreation and Conservation officials announced Wednesday that, in addition to the Jamestown Municipal Band’s annual performances, Pearl City Jazz, Chautauqua Theater Company, the Jamestown High School Concert Band will perform.
Band Director Meghan Murray said playing at the band shell is much different than playing indoors.
“The transition from inside to outside is always a challenge because it makes your instruments do crazy things sometimes, depending on the weather, so the kids have to learn how to adjust to that very quickly,” said Murray. “Also to have a different audience then they are used to is really exciting and I think they get a little nervous to perform; I think they walk in thinking, ‘Oh, this will be a fun time, fun concert,’ but then when they get under the pressure and it is time to start, they see all the people there, they get down to business.”
Murray said the concert will feature lighter music with a xylophone solo and fun rag time piece.
The High School Concert Band performance is set for June 12 at 7:00 p.m.
Additional performances will be held at 7:00 p.m. as follows:
- Pearl City Jazz, Wednesday, June 19
- Chautauqua Theater Company Performance of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Wednesday, June 26
- Jamestown Municipal Band, Wednesday, July 3
- Jamestown Municipal Band, Sponsored by JCC Scandinavian Studies Program, Wednesday, July 10
- Jamestown Municipal Band, Sponsored by The Resource Center, Wednesday, July 17
- Jamestown Municipal Band, Sponsored by UPMC Chautauqua, Wednesday, July 24
- Jamestown Municipal Band, Wednesday, July 3
- Jamestown Municipal Band, Wednesday, August 7
The Jamestown Municipal Band has performed in Allen Park since the 1950s, with musical events held annually at its current venue since the construction of the Goranson Bandshell in 1966.
For the second consecutive year, the Chautauqua Theatre Company will give the venue a break from music with a performance of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
“The Chautauqua Theater Company is thrilled to continue our partnership with the City of Jamestown’s Summer Bandshell Performance Series and to expand performances to include the River Walk,” said Artistic Director Andrew Borba. “We are also ecstatic to again have the Allen Park Women’s Club’s support and are already (Midsummer) dreaming of their fudge.”
In addition to funding provided annually by the City of Jamestown, these performances are made available free to the public through the support of the following: Allen Park Women’s Club, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, Chautauqua Theater Company, Fessenden, Laumer & DeAngelo; Lind Funeral Home, Local 134, American Federation of Musicians; Scandinavian Studies Program, Salon 1, The Resource Center, The United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County Projects Pool Grant Program, and UPMC Chautauqua Hospital.
As in previous years, members of the Allen Park Women’s Club will continue their tradition of providing coffee, fudge and other baked goods during all the performances. Proceeds from the concession sales will once again be donated by the Club for the continued maintenance and improvement of Allen Park.
All performances are free to the public and those attending are urged to bring their lawn chairs, blankets or park their vehicles close by and listen to the music from the comfort of their car.
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