Community band and choir team up for May concert

The Flathead Valley Community Band and the Columbia Falls Community Choir will present their “May Music Spectacular” concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Flathead High School Auditorium on May 1.

The 60-voice Columbia Falls Community Choir is under the direction of Steven Holte and will present songs from the heart. Dawn Hashley is the accompanist for the group. Selections include Joseph M. Martin’s “Come To The Music,” an uplifting and inspirational piece; “Cantar!,” featuring a Latin percussion ensemble and offers a spirited addition to the concert; “Set Me As A Seal Upon Your Heart” by David Childs, a beautiful love ballad based on the Psalms and is accompanied by Allen Slater on Euphonium. Another song “Chindia by Alexandru Pascanu,” offers a unique twist with the text being entirely made-up vocal sounds. And the African-American spiritual “Goin’ Up To Glory” by André J. Thomas is based on a traditional field holler/work song.  

The Flathead Valley Community Band portion of the concert contains several pieces made popular in the movies. Beginning with the march from “The Great Escape” by E. Bernstein and closing with “Pirates of the Caribbean” by Klaus Badlet, the music is sure to bring a smile to your face. The band will do a newly discovered piece “The Old Boatman” by Florence Price, a black music composer and piano teacher.  Her music was recently discovered and offers a beautiful moving description of life on the river. The band will also perform music from ‘The Incredibles” by Michael Giacchino. The band is under the direction of Allen Slater

The final event of the evening will be a combined band and choir selection and audience singing along with a salute to Armed Forces and the “Montana” the state song. There is no admission charge for the concert but there will be a free will offering to cover expenses.  Following the concert will be a reception in the foyer.