Batavia Concert Band

Tonight, the Batavia Concert Band kicked off its series of free concerts at Centennial Park with a show of a collection of British melodies, marches and concert favorites conducted by Brad Meholick.

Press release:

The Batavia Concert Band’s 88th season of music-making and free public concerts begins June 20 in Centennial Park. Additional concerts and parades will feature the band at other locations and times including the ever popular July 4 Picnic In The Park.

The Batavia Concert Band’s repertoire is wide-ranging in origin, period and style: marches, Big Band and swing numbers, popular songs from musicals and movies, classical adaptations, rock favorites arranged for band, fun songs for kids of all ages … and everything in between.

The band consists of about 50 brass, woodwind and percussion players ranging from talented local high school students to 60-year veterans. Many have professional experience; the rest are advanced amateur musicians. All love to play.

The conductor’s podium will be shared by a team of Batavia Concert Band conducting veterans, to be announced. Derek Reiss and Dizzy will again cap this year’s Concerts in the Park on Aug. 8 as a benefit fundraiser for the Batavia Concert Band.

Founded in the early 1920s, the Batavia Concert Band has brought musical pleasure to the region every year except during WWII. The band currently enjoys financial support from GO-ART!, concert sponsors, program advertisers, and individual patrons. The band also sponsors a “Sample of Western New York” gift certificate raffle from selected area restaurants and retailers, 50-50 raffles at every concert, bake sales and other low-key fundraisers.

Downbeat for regular season concerts is 7 Wednesday evenings in Centennial Park in the City of Batavia.

All concerts are free to the public of all ages. Light refreshments are usually available. Bring the family, some friends, lawn chairs or a blanket… and enjoy!

Info contact:  Bob Knipe, bobknipe@hotmail.com, 343-5991 / 590-6457 (cell)

Batavia Concert Band
Summer 2012 concert season

Date/Time                        Conductor

June 20 -- 7 p.m.* -- Brad Meholick
June 27 -- 7 p.m.* -- Wayne Burlison
July 4  -- 12 noon -- Phil Briatico
July 11 -- 7 p.m.* -- Jane Haggett
July 18 -- 7 p.m.* -- Phil Briatico
July 25 -- 7 p.m.* -- Wayne Burlison
Aug. 1 -- 7 p.m.* -- Jane Haggett
Aug. 8 -- 7 p.m.* -- Derek Reiss & Dizzy

(*In the event of rain, concerts will move to Genesee Community College's Stuart Steiner Theatre. Notices will be posted at the NW corner of Centennial Park and announced on WBTA radio AM1490, and http://TheBatavian.com.)

The Batavia Concert Band performed in Centennial Park, Batavia, on Wednesday evening. Wayne Burlison conducted.

Click Here to purchase quality, affordable prints of these photos.

More pictures after the jump:

There's no rain in the forecast for this evening, so the Batavia Concert Band show will be held at Centennial Park as originally planned, according to Robert Knipe.

Show time is 7 p.m.

Here's a press release from the Batavia Concert Band.

The Batavia Concert Band’s 87th season of music-making and free public concerts begins June 22 in Batavia’s Centennial Park. Additional concerts and parades will feature the band at other locations and times including Batavia’s popular July 4 Picnic in the Park.

The Batavia Concert Band’s repertoire is wide-ranging in origin, period and style: marches, Big Band and swing numbers, popular songs from musicals and movies, classical adaptations, rock favorites arranged for band, fun songs for kids of all ages … and everything in between.

The band consists of about 50 brass, woodwind and percussion players ranging from talented local high school students to 60-year veterans. Many have professional experience; the rest are advanced amateur musicians. All love to play.

The conductor’s podium will be shared by veterans Phil Briatico, Wayne Burlison, Jane Haggett, Brad Meholick and Josh Pacino. Derek Reiss and Dizzy will again (tentatively) cap this year’s Concerts in the Park on Aug. 10, as a benefit fundraiser for the Batavia Concert Band.

Founded in the early 1920s, the Batavia Concert Band has brought musical pleasure to the region every year except during World War II. The band currently enjoys financial support from GO-ART!, concert sponsors, program advertisers, and individual patrons. The band also sponsors a “Sample of Western New York” gift certificate raffle from selected area restaurants and retailers, 50-50 raffles at every concert, bake sales and other low-key fundraisers.

Downbeat for regular season concerts is 7 Wednesday evenings in Centennial Park*, except a July 6 performance at the VA Medical Center, in honor of our veterans. (* In the event of rain, concerts will move to Genesee Community College’s Stuart Steiner Theater. Notices will be posted at the northwest corner of Centennial Park and announced on WBTA.)

All concerts are free. Light refreshments are usually available. Bring the family, some friends, lawn chairs or a blanket… and enjoy!

The 86th season for the Batavia Concert Band is drawing to a close. Tonight, the group of experienced professionals and enthusiastic amatuers presented its second-to-last show of the summer at Centennial Park.

More than 200 people were on hand in the warm, beautiful evening to hear a mix of classic and popular tunes.

The Concert Band performs its finale of the season at 7 p.m. next Wednesday in Centennial Park.

Don't forget! Tomorrow is the premiere of the Batavia Concert Band's summer season at Centennial Park. Showtime is 7:00pm. Bring your own lawn chairs. They'll supply the entertainment (and possibly some light refreshments). For a complete schedule of shows, check out our earlier post.

Here's some more info on the band, supplied by Robert Knipe (who also sent us these photos):

"The Batavia Concert Band’s repertoire is wide-ranging in origin, period and style: Sousa-style marches, Broadway show tunes, classical adaptations, fun songs for kids of all ages, big-band and swing numbers, popular songs from hit musicals and movies, rock favorites arranged for concert band… and everything in between.

"The Band consists of forty to fifty brass, woodwind and percussion players ranging from talented local high school students to 50-year veterans. Many have professional experience, and the rest are advanced amateur musicians. All love to play."

All shows are free!

Eighty-four years of anything is worth boasting about. Let us, then, boast on behalf of the Batavia Concert Band, which kicks off its 84th anniversary season June 25 in Batavia's Centennial Park.

The Batavia Concert Band’s repertoire is wide-ranging in origin, period and style: Sousa-style marches, Broadway show tunes, classical adaptations, fun songs for kids of all ages, big-band and swing numbers, popular songs from hit musicals and movies, rock favorites arranged for concert band… and everything in between.

The Band consists of forty to fifty brass, woodwind and percussion players ranging from talented local high school students to 50-year veterans. Many have professional experience, and the rest are advanced amateur musicians. All love to play.

The Batavia Concert Band has been performing here since 1924, except for a reprieve during World War II.

Its regular season concerts all start at 7:00pm, Wednesday evenings, in Centennial Park, unless it rains, and the band moves to the Genesee County Nursing Home. (See below for a complete season schedule.) All concerts are free to the public. Light refreshments are often available.

Call Bob Knipe at (585) 343-5991 for more information.