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City Band to hold holiday concert Dec. 2
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MONROE - The Monroe City Band will perform its annual Christmas and Holiday concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2 in the sanctuary of the Monroe United Methodist Church, 2227 4th St.

Pastor Mary Gafner will act as host and announcer and Randy Schneeberger will conduct the band, with Jane Olson as vocal soloist. The concert is free and open to the public, with donations of non-perishable food items for the Green County Food Pantry accepted at the door.

A reception with light refreshments will be held in the church's Fellowship Hall immediately following the program.

The concert continues a 64-year tradition begun by the band's founder, Allan F. "Pat" Barnard.

The program for this year's concert includes "Christmas Festival" by LeRoy Anderson, themes from Tchaikovsky's ballet "Nutcracker" arranged by Clair Johnson, Clarence Barber's setting of Schubert's "Ave Maria" sung by soprano Jane Olson, and music from the Dr. Seuss animated television program "How The Grinch Stole Christmas." Among the other selections is a suite from Rimsky-Korsakov's tone poem "Scheherezade," and an audience sing-a-long of seasonal favorites accompanied by the band.

The Monroe City Band is made up of musicians from Green and Lafayette counties and communities in northern Illinois. It rehearses weekly at 7:30 p.m. Monday evenings in the Monroe Middle School band room and presents a series of summer concerts in Twining Park, a spring Variety Show and Dance in March at Turner Hall in addition to the Christmas concert.

Those who are interested in joining the group may contact Schneeberger at (608) 325-9722.