Concert Band to perform seasonal favorites

The Kishwaukee Concert Band will present a Winter Concert at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Boutell Memorial Hall in the Music Building at Northern Illinois University.

Dave Lehman is the director of the concert that will feature many seasonal favorites. The band is in the 18th season and is made up of people older than 18 who have played a wind or percussion instrument in the past and enjoy playing.

Some of the music featured will be “Silver Sleigh,” by Caesar Giovannini, and “Christmas Scenes,” by Forrest Buchtel. Paul Gehrett will be the featured trumpet soloist on “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” This was written while the composer, Hugh Martin, was on vacation, and some of the original lyrics were rejected as too depressing. It was first performed in a scene on Christmas Eve in “Meet Me in St. Louis.”

Jeff Simmons’ “Secret Agent Santa” is a hilarious romp though the many Secret Agent clichés lurking in this fun-filled holiday piece. “A Chanukah Celebration” by David Bobrowitz/arranged by Kenneth Soper, features several familiar songs from the eight-day Jewish Festival of Light. A 16th century Welsh melody, “Deck the Halls,” is arranged by Robert Longfield for band. The original carols were dances and not songs. This piece has the Mannheim Steamroller feel.

“Veni, Veni” is based on the carol of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” This is of Indian origin generally of the Hindu religion, and also has the Mannheim Steamroller style. The arrangement “A Fireside Christmas” by Sammy Nestico features five traditional Christmas songs. “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” by Irving Berlin reflects on the soldiers of World War II and their families who are waiting for their return from the war.

Christine Monterio is the featured vocalist on “Grown Up Christmas List” by David Foster and Linda Thompson-Jenner, a story of a child on Santa’s knee and that is now grown up. Monterio also will lead the audience on a “Christmas Sing-A-Long.”

This concert is sponsored by Michele LaBaw in memory of her mother, who made the musical pursuits possible for her and her brother. The band also is supported by the DeKalb County Community Foundation and the Mary E. Stevens Concert and Lecture Fund. KCB is a tax-exempt charitable organization under IRS sec. 501(c)(3), and contributions to the band are tax-deductible per sec. 170 of the IRS code.

In the case of bad weather on Dec. 14, check your local radio stations or the band website: kishconcertband.org.