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AVB Community Band Concert
You’re invited to enjoy a magnificent evening of local entertainment when some of the community’s favorite vocalists join the AVB Community Band as it presents “All Our Best” on Monday, April 15, at 7 p.m. at the Ashwaubenon Performing Arts Center, 2391 S. Ridge Road in Ashwaubenon.
Doors open at 6 p.m. Admission is at no charge, but donations will be accepted before and after the concert to support the band’s continuing mission of providing the community with eight concerts each season.
The April 15 concert is sponsored by Willems Landscape Service of De Pere.
“We will feature, not just one, not two or even three fantastic vocalists. We will feature eight of them. In one concert! Super sweet!” said Mike Ajango, director of the AVB Community Band. “There are many incredibly talented vocalists in our area and the AVB has been blessed to have so many of them perform with us over the years.”
The concert will feature some of the most popular instrumental and vocal pieces the AVB Community Band has performed the past several seasons.
Joining the band for the evening will be vocalists Kelly and David Gusloff, Tim Olejniczak, Amanda Abegglan, Ben Cahill, Corrie Kovacs, and Kent and Emily Paulsen.
“Tunes will range from a John Williams fanfare, classic and contemporary band literature, as well as Broadway and pop classics,” said Ajango.
“The evening will be a true ‘Gala of Stars,’ both vocal and instrumental,” he said, adding the evening will feature a finale “you won’t want to miss.”
The 75-member AVB (All-Volunteer) Community Band is in its 42nd season of providing entertainment to the community. It was originally founded as the Allouez Village Band.
The concert will begin with John Williams’ grand and moving “Liberty Fanfare,” originally commissioned for the 1986 celebration of the 100th birthday of the Statue of Liberty.
Kelly and David Gusloff will perform the soaring duet “The Prayer,” which was made famous by Andrea Bocelli and Céline Dion.
The AVB Community Band then performs the classic “Sea Songs,” followed by Tim Olejniczak joining the band to sing “Precious Lord, Take My Hand.”
The first half of the concert is rounded out with two selections from “Les Miserables.”
“I Dreamed a Dream” will be sung by Amanda Abegglan. “Bring Him Home” will be sung by Ben Cahill.
The band opens the second half with “Triumphant Fanfare,” written by one of the band’s favorite composers, Richard Saucedo.
“You Raise Me Up,” made famous by singer Josh Grobin, will be performed by Kent and Emily Paulsen, followed by the band’s rendition of the fast-paced “Galop” by Dmitri Shostakovich.
Director Mike Ajango has done a special arrangement of the classic “Unchained Melody,” made famous by The Righteous Brothers. It will be sung by Corrie Kovacs, with piano accompaniment by band member Carmen Youra.
The entire vocal ensemble then joins the AVB Community Band for “Andrew Lloyd Webber: A Concert Celebration,” featuring the music of “Phantom of the Opera,” “Evita,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Cats.”
In the lobby prior to the concert and during intermission, the Ashwaubenon High School “Encore” competitive show choir will be selling Seroogy’s candy bars as a fundraiser to support the choir, which also does outreach into the community.
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The AVB Community Band will close out its 2023-2024 season with its eighth performance of the 42nd season on Monday, May 13, at 7 p.m. with a concert titled “Amazing and Outrageous” at the Ashwaubenon Performing Arts Center. Doors open at 6 p.m. The concert is being sponsored by Chuck and Judy Hastert
On May 13, the band will also host the annual “Spring Cleaning Drive” collection of household cleaning products and personal care items for local veterans in need, conducted by AmVets Post 11 prior to the concert in the lobby.
For more information, see avbcommunityband.org or our Facebook page.
