By David Gehman
For The Advance

There is band music in the air as the Escambia County Community Band is meeting each week in preparation for upcoming concerts.

Band musicians are invited to join this local effort to present concerts in the communities of Escambia County. Several years ago, Jerry Gehman helped assemble what was the Atmore Community Band. Two years ago, Nolan McAnally and Jake Cannon led efforts to gather musicians from across the county, known as the Escambia County Community Band.

Current and former band students are encouraged to participate as the band prepares for performances this summer. Practice sessions are held each Monday and Thursday evening, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Flomaton High School band room.

Presently, there are approximately 25 musicians but that number is expected to increase once school is out for summer. The band will present popular music from the Beatles — 1964, Big Band Super Hits, Music of Queen, Music from Pirates of the Caribbean, The Liberty Bell, Kentucky 1800 and Light Calvary, in addition to a selection of gospel and patriotic songs.

Band organizers welcome and encourage musicians to join the band. There is a need for more brass horns, including trombone, tuba, baritone, French horn, euphonium, trumpet and also percussion.

Often when band students graduate, their instrument is left on a shelf and it gets dusty. The Escambia County Community Band is a great opportunity to dust off your instrument, tune it up and make some music and memories as we provide some great band music right here at home in Escambia County.

No matter how many years since you played, bring your instrument and join us. Each week, two band members travel at their own expense from near New Orleans, Louisiana, for practice, to support and be a part of this band. Being a part of this band and performing music is a great quality of life opportunity.

This year, we are excited about a very unique performance in one of Atmore’s landmark buildings. The First Baptist Church of Atmore will host the ECCB in the historic Patterson Sanctuary. Citizens of Atmore and surrounding area will have a rare opportunity to attend a concert in this fabulous beautiful sanctuary that many folks remember attending church in as a child.

The ECCB would also be happy to perform in Brewton should a suitable location be provided. The band is voluntary and has no funding.

Performances scheduled are:

• Saturday, May 31 — Flomaton High School auditorium, 6:30 p.m.

• Saturday, June 28 — Patterson Auditorium, old sanctuary of First Baptist Church, 6:30 p.m.

• Friday, July 4, Wind Creek Casino & Hotel, amphitheatre outdoors with fireworks, tentatively 8:30 p.m.

David Gehman is a member of the Escambia County Community Band.