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After a long hiatus without practice or concerts in the shadow of COVID-19, Williamsport's Repasz Band is set to resume both rehearsals and performances, with a free concert scheduled at the Brandon Park bandshell at 7 p.m. Sunday.
Normally rehearsing on Tuesday nights at City Hall downtown, the Repasz Band -- one of America's oldest community ensembles -- curtailed its normal schedule over the past 14 months, which always includes major concerts in April and December, along with a robust slate of summer gigs around the area.
Starting late last year, the 70-member band formed two smaller ensembles -- Repasz Winds and Repasz Brass -- which could safely rehearse and perform given social-distancing and other virus protocols. These groups played for Williamsport's Christmas Spectacular at the Community Arts Center on Dec. 5 and again at the Ways Garden Art Festival on June 13 this year.
Both bands will perform Sunday evening in Brandon Park under the direction of Repasz conductor Jeff Dent.
Repasz Winds, consisting of about 35 players, will begin the show with such selections as "Hymnsong of Philip Bliss," "Stars and Stripes Forever" and highlights from the score to "Pirates of the Caribbean."
Following a short break, the smaller Repasz Brass -- featuring about 20 performers -- will finish out the evening with a variety of tunes including "Goin' Home," "Beer Barrel Polka" and "Seventy-Six Trombones."
The show will conclude with a newly commissioned arrangement of the famous "Repasz Band March," performed by the brass.
Rain date for the show is Monday, June 28.
The full band resumes its regular Tuesday rehearsals on July 6 at Williamsport City Hall.
For more information, visit repaszband.org