The Delta Concert Band will mark its 50th anniversary with a special concert next week at the Ladner Community Centre.
The group has invited its former members to the performance and around 25 so far have said they’ll be attending.
The idea is the band will perform and then the former members will get to come up and play as well, says Delta Concert Band director of music Jim Tempest.
“It should be really, really fun,” Tempest says. “It’s a way of thanking the community as well, for the support that, Ladner particularly, has given the band over the years.”
He says the event will be a concert, homecoming and a celebration of the fact the community organization has lasted for 50 years.
The group will be playing a range of music.
“There will be a medley of concert band music and popular music from the last 50 years.”
The band, which has about 45 members now, typically performs in all three Delta communities a couple of times each year, Tempest notes.
“The band is really good right now. I’m really pleased with it.”
The group also supports young musicians by welcoming advanced high school players to play and offering scholarships to those who are pursuing a career in music.
There will be a display of memorabilia from the history of the band, Tempest notes, adding band members have maintained archives since the group’s inception.
There will be lots of posters, pictures, programs and notes of its activities since 1964.
The 50th anniversary concert is set for Saturday, Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ladner Community Centre, 4734-51st St. Admission is free.
For more on the band, visit www.deltaconcertband.ca.
The group is planning a tour of Europe (through Holland, Belgium and France) early next year to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
