Ringgold Band Announces 171st Annual Spring Concert Featuring Jill Haley, Composer and Soloist
Ringgold’s 171st annual Spring Concert will be held at the Scottish Rite Cathedral, 430 S 7th Ave, West Reading, PA 19611, on Sunday, April 16th. The Ringgold New Horizons Band will perform an introductory concert beginning at 2:40pm, displaying the fine results of their dedication to joy of making music.
“We’re thrilled to premier Jill Haley’s terrific new composition “Southwest National Parks Suite #3”, said Chuck Ebersole, Ringgold’s Music Director. “Jill’s beautiful work, lovingly arranged for concert band by our own “Lone Arranger”, Tom Shade, paints an inspiring portrait of our Nation’s magnificent National Parks in the Southwest”.
In addition, National Park Rangers from Berks County’s own Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site will offer insights into the National Park Service including the Artists in the Parks Program, which commissioned Jill’s composition.
“We will showcase our outstanding 2023 Ringgold Young Artist Award winner, Benjamin Small, from Wilson High School, who will solo on the Tenor Saxophone.
“Highlighting Ringgold’s musical look at vintage America, we will venture beyond the walls of the concert hall to a classic baseball game in Mudville, USA, guided by surprise local guests,” said Ebersole.
The Bands will each dedicate a selection to the memory of those lives lost in the recent RM Palmer factory explosion. Donations to the West Reading Disaster Recovery Fund will be accepted and a portion of the concert proceeds will also be donated. This will be another exceptional local concert displaying the Music of America and another concert not to be missed!
Background
Established in 1852 and becoming the Regimental Band of the Civil War’s Ringgold Light Artillery Regiment of Reading, PA; the Ringgold Band has been performing live concerts for over 171 years, making it the oldest continuously performing regimental band in America.
Throughout its history, the Ringgold Band has performed for all manner of civic and military events, dedications, and celebrations ranging from Presidential Inaugurations to local parades and featuring formal concerts annually. The Band’s regimental name “Ringgold” honors celebrated Major Samuel Ringgold, American Hero of the Mexican-American War, whose name also appears in his honor across America on schools, roads, and towns.
See our website: www.ringgoldband.com for more information.
