The Repasz Band will continue on, playing music and bringing joy to the hearts of local audiences, hopefully for years to come — but without its leader.

Maestro Albert J. Nacinovich will direct his last concert next week for the Williamsport-based band.

Nacinovich said his 47 years with the group have simply been a fine experience.

“It’s been, I guess, a major part of my life, and a relationship with fine people and making music,” he said.

A native of Shamokin, Nacinovich came to Williamsport following graduation from the then-Mansfield State Teachers College where he majored in music. He later received a master’s degree in music education at Ithaca College.

Not long after arriving in the city, he and his wife, Alice, joined the Repasz Band.

Nacinovich played trumpet and Alice, the French Horn.

After a time, he was asked to become assistant director of the Repasz Band under director George Calapa.

“I took over in 1982,” he said.

Nacinovich said he’s “immensely” enjoyed his time with the band.

“Over the years, we have evolved into a good band. We have grown in size and talent,” he said. “We just have a good bunch of people.”

But it’s been Nacinovich who’s been a major force in bringing it all together.

Repasz Band member Nancy Eischeid said, “Albert never sacrifices standards of musical

excellence but always with compassion, warmth of humanity, sparkling wit, all with a ‘roll with the flow’ sense of humor.”

In addition to his wife, daughters Tama and Tanya played in the Repasz Band.

All told, the band numbers more than 70 members, dedicated musicians who hone their skills at the band’s Tuesday night practice sessions.

“A number of people say that it’s such a welcome relief from the pressures of work,” Nacinovich said.

During his tenure, the Repasz Band has played at numerous local venues and events.

But there have also been performances for special events, including the centennial re-dedication of Grant’s Tomb in New York in 1997 and the 150th anniversary commemoration in 2015 of the surrender of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee to Union forces at Appomattox Court House in Virginia.

And there have been the awards garnered by the band under Nacinovich’s leadership.

Among the honors have been the John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Silver Scroll Historic Community Band Award in 2003 for excellence in musicianship and historic importance. The band was selected as the premier performing community band for the 2017 annual conference of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association in Erie.

Nacinovich, 80, who taught music and served as band director in the Williamsport Area School District, has struggled somewhat with Parkinson’s Disease in recent years.

“I am beginning to see slippages here and there,” he said.

And so, the Repasz Band’s Winter Holiday Concert on Tuesday will mark the end of his leadership. The free concert is at 7:30 p.m. at the Community Arts Center.

But the man who got into music playing the trumpet as a schoolboy will not completely leave behind the band.

“I don’t want to cut ties completely with the band,” he said. “I will make a few spot appearances.”