Brass band launches summer concert series

The Sheldon Theatre Brass Band, the resident performing ensemble at the historic Sheldon Theatre, will present the first in a series of five outdoor concerts Wednesday evening.

The band will perform music to “get you in the mood for the Fourth of July” from 7 to 9 p.m. in Central Park, according to the Red Wing Arts Association, which presents the Wednesday night series each July.

The Sheldon Brass, founded in 1989, performs marches, overtures, classical transcriptions, jazz, popular tunes and music originally written by and for the Salvation Army. The band adheres to the traditional style of the British brass band, which utilizes only brass instruments and percussion.

James Kurschner has been music director since 2002.

A favorite throughout the region, the Sheldon Brass performs regularly at the North American Brass Band Association Championships. It schedules about 12 concerts a year, including seasonal performances at the Sheldon. The summer concert is upcoming Aug. 2, during River City Days. For more information, go online to www.stbb.org.

The non-profit corporation is comprised of all amateur musicians. Revenues from ticket sales, grants and donations support instrument repairs, music and production costs and theater rentals.

The remainder of the summer concert series follows:

• July 9 — Back Channel Blues Band, performing blues music.

• July 16 — Sometime 8, a group of men from the Lewiston, Minn., area. This ensemble performs gospel tunes and “golden oldies.” The members have been singing together 16 years.

• July 23 — Ditch Lilies. The lead singers of this group, who hail from Maiden Rock, will perform folk and bluegrass music.

• July 30 — Patchouli. Another Wisconsin folk duo will sing and play guitar.

In case of rain, the alternate site for concerts on Wednesday and on July 16, 23 and 30 is First Lutheran Church, 615 W. Fifth St. If it rains on July 9 the concert will be canceled. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted.

Some seating is available in the park, but people are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets.

Tags: entertainment, brass, band