Community Band Draws Families and Friends from Far and Wide

Community Band Draws Families 

and Friends from Far and Wide

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

11/13/11

Westport, CT – Audience members came from as far as Alabama to see this delightful platoon of volunteers toot their horns, pluck their guitars and blow their bassoons.

The musical group was the Westport Community Band and they performed for several dozen people late afternoon Sunday at Saugatuck Elementary School, 170 Riverside Avenue. Their program was titled “America from Coast to Coast” and featured both patriotic tunes like the “Star-Spangled Banner” and show tunes such as Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Flower Drum Song” and John Phillip Sousa’s “The Belle of Chicago.” The concert, conducted by Weston High School Director of Bands Sal LaRusso and narrated by Bob Westervelt, took place in the school’s auditorium.

The WCB, which is celebrating its 35th year, is comprised of sixty adult musicians from Fairfield and Westchester Counties. Members are from a wide variety of professional backgrounds and have diverse musical experience. The group regularly performs at such venues as Westport’s Memorial Day parade, Levitt Pavilion’s summer music program, the Weston Family Fourth and the Stamford Town Center’s December holiday celebration.

Each spring, the Band, which is affiliated with Westport Continuing Education, gives area middle school instrumental students the opportunity to rehearse and perform with the band – over 500 children have participated to date.