Arts & Entertainment
Music at Gazebo Pleases Attendees' Ears at Fishawack
Weather cuts Chatham Community Band's concert short, but shortened set still a fun time.
Musicians are born to share their talent, and the Fishawack Festival had a great lineup of musical talent today.
Chatham Community Band, a volunteer group, played to a crowd of all ages this afternoon. The performance was professional and stately. Steven Johnson is president of the organization.
"We are the Chatham Community Band,” Johnson said. “We’re just a group of local people who like concert music. We play all types of music: classical, concert band, Broadway, movie themes, Pops music, and marches. We rehearse once a week, enjoy playing music and getting people to enjoy our concerts.”
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Johnson said the band is a non-profit organization, subsisting on grants and contributions.
"We have been playing for over 25 years," he said. "Brian Conti is the director. The band has 55 members. We also have two ensembles–a brass ensemble with five members, and a jazz ensemble with 18 members."
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Johnson said the jazz band played for the Jaycees race Saturday morning. The brass ensemble performed on the other side of the firehouse.
A gray cloud passed over the area, and mist turned into a light rain. The band made a decision to cut the concert short.
“We were cut short because of rain, but we got five or six songs,” Johnson said. “We were hoping the mist would blow by, but it’s not good for instruments or the sheet music. “
Before the weather got nasty, the Farrugia family was having lunch and listening to the concert.
“We arrived about 12:30 for lunch,” Joe Farrugia said, “We live in Chatham. We’ve been here for nine years. Today, we’re enjoying the music and the company of good friends.
On the other side of the Gazebo, several students from the School of Rock were gathering with their instruments. Their gig was next, and they were concerned about the rain. School of Rock provides musical education for students in an interactive environment that includes live performances.
The skies grayed up. At the time this article published, it was not known whether School of Rock would be able to perform.
