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KINGMAN – The Kingman Adult Concert Band has opened their 26th year of performances with a program of Irish music in honor of the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day. The concert was held at the Kingman High School auditorium for a crowd of nearly 200.
The group’s director is Julie Gragg, who enthusiastically talked about the purpose of the band, “Twenty-six years ago, our mission statement was for this to be an adult community band, ages 18 and older, from all walks of life from professionals to music educators to business owners to retirees. We’ve got it all.”
She went on to describe the dedication of this all-volunteer group, “And they give up their Monday evenings, 90 minutes, six or seven times, leading up to every performance to make those black dots on the page come to life.”
The next concert is Sunday, May 4. You only know what selections will be played. Barbara Pike is a long-time music educator and the senior member of the band. She shares why she’s involved, “It’s camaraderie with the group. That’s, I think, really, probably the most important thing, but I love music.”
Barbara seemed to speak for the entire group and that ‘love’ really shows in the group’s performances. The junior member of the band is Michael Watts, a product of the Kingman public school system, and currently a teacher at Black Mountain School. He echoed Ms. Pike’s sentiments about the band, “We have a fantastic group of a bunch of skill levels, obviously, we’re not professionals, but it’s all how we kind of enjoy producing music together.”
Gragg, is also the Kingman school district’s music director and she explains the significance of the month.
“March is “Music in Our School’s” month. This is the 40th year that the National Association of Music Education has celebrated it. Music brings all of the core subject areas and so much more to life for the young and the “not so young” alike.”
Band membership is always open, and the group is currently looking to replace a departing board member. The Kingman Concert Band may be reached at 928-853-3846 or through the internet at www.kingmanconcertband.com.
Allen Scott
