Community band getting ready for third season

The Jackson County Community Band is gearing up for its third summer concert season, and all northeast Kansas musicians, of all ages, are invited to dust off their instruments and join the band.

Jayme Malsom, Holton school band director and one of the organizers for this year’s community band, reported that the first rehearsal for the band has been set for 7 p.m. Sunday, May 31, at the HHS band room. Students and adults are invited to attend that first meeting.

“The music is not difficult, and it’s a low stress commitment,” Malsom said. “There’s no competing with one another. It’s just for fun. We’ll take anybody who enjoys music.”

A regular practice schedule will be determined after the initial meeting on May 31. Malsom said that rehearsals are usually an hour to an hour and a half long but are not mandatory to perform at the band’s concerts.

“We all have things going on, and some people won’t be able to perform at all the concerts and that’s completely fine,” he said.

The band’s first concert has been set for 2 p.m. Sunday, June 14, Flag Day, on the south side of the Jackson County Courtyard. The Jackson County Community Band will share that concert with the 35th Infantry Division Band of Olathe. Malsom’s uncle is the director of that National Guard Army band.

“A former Holton High School band director, David Carlson, is also a member of the band,” Malsom said.

Both bands will perform patriotic songs that evening.

For their second concert, the band will perform at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, on the courtyard.

The band will play at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 3, at Banner Creek Reservoir prior to a fireworks show. 

At 6 p.m. on July 11, the band will perform on the courtyard during the Second Saturday event. The theme for the event centers on children, and the band will play more whimsical songs to appease the younger crowd, Malsom said.

An additional concert is being planned 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 19, on the Square.

“Bring your lawn chairs and come enjoy the music,” he said.

The community band re-formed two summers ago in Jackson County after disbanding in the 1950s. More than 30 area musicians participate each year.

Besides Malsom, additional organizers include local music teachers Sheri Bartel and Laura Holliday.

For more information about the band, e-mail the organizers at j.malsom@holton.ks.net, s.bartel@holton.ks.net and laura.holliday@jhcobras.net