The big band era will be heard at the Reservoir Park Amphitheater this Sunday, July 29 when the group ‘Big Band Sound, Incorporated’ takes the stage as part of the Tyrone Regional Arts Council’s Summer Concert Series.
‘Big Band Sound, Incorporated’ will perform songs from a repertoire of over 300 musical arrangements and uses full instrumentation of the original big bands.
‘Big Band Sound, Incorporated’ is now in its 36th year and was started by retired music teacher Richard Burkholder under the auspices of the Mount Union Area School District as an adult education program. The band is a full 17 piece group like original big bands. Over the years, band members have changed and no original members are currently in the group. The group still claims Mount Union as its home. It is supported by the School District for 13 weeks of rehearsals when preparing for the season’s concerts.
‘Big Band Sound, Incorporated’ has performed for festivals, concerts, and social events all over central Pennsylvania, including the People’s Choice Festival in Boalsburg and the Raystown Lake Amphitheater.
‘Big Band Sound, Incorporated’ is currently led by Frank Furfaro. Other members in the group include Dave Switzer, Nina Trego, Fred Richard, and Tracy Loucks on trumpet; Bob Madden, Charlie Port, Katie Patterson, Dan Loucks, and Stephanie Benson on trombone; Dixie Enyeart, John Blewett, Phil Wysocki, Stephanie Diehl, and Bill Croissant on saxophone; Frank Furfaro on drums, Sue Briggs on bass, and Terri Limes on keyboard.
Vocals this season are provided by Bob Madden, Fred Richard, and Stephanie Diehl. They will perform vocals in solo or a duet.
All Sunday concerts begin at 6 p.m. Concerts are free of charge and audience members should bring a chair or blanket for seating. If rain occurs, the concerts will be moved to the First English Lutheran Church, at the corner of Logan Avenue and 13th Street.
Upcoming Sunday concerts include ‘Zupe’, performing a variety of big band, oldies, and contemporary music on August 5; ‘Lou Stein Band’, performing a variety of jazz and big band music on August 12; ‘Michael O’Brian Band’, performing a variety of Irish music on August 19; and the Summer Concert Series concludes with ‘The Local Country Band with Clayton Hoover’ on August 26.
All concerts are made possible by a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts and Tyrone Borough. For additional information, contact the Arts Line at 684-ART2.
