AVB Community Band to host Christmas Concert at the Weidner

Join the 75-member AVB Community Band for a wonderful evening of holiday and Christmas classics titled “Come Together … Awe and Delight!” on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. at the Weidner Center.

There is no admission charge, although donations will be accepted to support the AVB Community Band’s mission of “Music for a Lifetime.”

Doors to the Weidner Center will open at 6 p.m.

The AVB Community Band invites attendees to come early to celebrate the season with friends and family.

The lobby bar will be open as will Generations Marketplace at the Weidner, which offers nourishing, irresistible options that delight the senses, from gluten-free macarons and gourmet chocolates to aromatic coffee and tea from Julius Meinl, Austria.

Prior to the concert, the band’s annual Paul’s Pantry collection of nonperishable foods will be held in the Weidner lobby.

Perfect for family and friends of all ages, the AVB (All-Volunteer) Community Band’s Christmas concert is sponsored once again by Bellevue Family Dentistry.

The evening of music is also made possible because of our ongoing, sustaining AVB Community Band donors who are recognized in each concert program, advertisers and audience members who support the band with their donations at each concert.

The director of the AVB Community Band is Mike Ajango, now in his 24th year as director.

The AVB Community Band, originally founded by Bob Seering as the Allouez Village Band, is celebrating its 44th season of music.

Also conducting selections throughout the concert will be Associate Director Paul Oleksy.

The narrator for each concert is Bruce Deadman.

“Our musical selections, we hope, recreate the awe and delight of Christmases past — both as children or as parents of children,” Ajango said. “And we’re very pleased to have join us for our Christmas concert renowned local vocalist April Strom-Johnson. She’s known for her signature smooth style that makes everything special, from ballads to swing.”

“This concert is a great opportunity to bring the entire family for a festive evening of holiday cheer,” Ajango added. “And Santa tells me he has our concert at the Weidner on his schedule!”

Musical selections for the evening include “Santa’s Journey, ‘Bringing Joy to the World;’” “Irving Berlin’s Christmas,” featuring favorites like “Happy Holiday” and “White Christmas;” and “Christmas from the ‘50s,” with “Home for the Holidays,” “The Christmas Waltz,” “Frosty the Snowman” and “Jingle Bell Rock.”

And there’s more, including a favorite of many, “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson, the very special “Carol of the Drum” and “Minor Alterations,” which features a unique take on many holiday favorites.

Also planned for the concert are “The First Noel,” Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad,” “Go Tell It On the Mountain,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” and “A Festive Christmas Celebration,” featuring “I Saw Three Ships,” “Deck the Hall” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

And, of course, the evening concludes with the AVB Community Band’s traditional sing-a-long.

The AVB Community Band Christmas Concert is all about giving back to the community with our music and providing a helping hand to those in need.

“Once again we’re hosting Paul’s Pantry prior to the concert for a collection of nonperishable foods,” Ajango said. “Because of the generosity of our audience, this has become one of Paul’s Pantry’s larger collection events of the year. We’re so honored that collectively — as a band and an audience — we can make a difference together in our community.”

For more information and updates, see avbcommunityband.org or visit facebook.com/AVBCommunityBand/.