PHOTO PROVIDED The Repasz Band practices.

In 2031, Williamsport’s world-famous Repasz Band will celebrate its 200th year of continuous existence; but in the meantime this year, the local ensemble honors yet another anniversary–America’s 250th–with a robust slate of concerts in June, July and August.

According to a news release, with 10 Central PA gigs on the schedule, the band’s summer 2026 program highlights accomplished local musicians, while also presenting such patriotic favorites as “America the Beautiful,” “Stars and Stripes Forever” and the national anthem–plus a medley featuring all five themes from each branch of the U.S. armed forces.

In addition, the summer tune-selection focuses on various aspects of Central PA history and locales.

“The Eagles Mere March”–which the band will perform in the titular town on July 4 (and at other shows)–was arranged by long-time Repasz conductor and beloved local educator Albert J. Nacinovich.

Likewise, “The Brandon Park March” will be played twice at the park’s bandshell–where Repasz performed when that facility was dedicated in 1914. (That’s why the ensemble’s historical marker stands nearby.) The “Brandon” march was written in 1883 by long-time Muncy entrepreneur and musician Preston Gowers.

Similarly, 1921’s “Buick March” (also on the summer slate) was composed by Williamsport musician John Hazel. Widely considered his era’s “wizard of the cornet,” Hazel wrote and arranged many tunes for Repasz, the news release said.

And “The Millionaires March” was likewise composed by Williamsport musician C. D. Henninger — with its title honoring the city’s one-time Tri-State League baseball team (1906–10). The 116-year-old March was recently rearranged by USAF trumpeter and bugle-call expert Jari Villanueva–who will himself conduct the piece for Repasz’s June 9 performance at Nippenose Valley Village.

The summer program also features “Salute to Williamsport,” the Central PA fave “Beer Barrel Polka” and “Imperial Teteques.” That latter honors the city’s long-time Masonic band, whose former members are invited to perform with Repasz on July 5 at the Scottish Rite Auditorium — where Teteque played countless concerts over many decades.

Several planned summer pieces were composed or arranged by local musicians F. H. Losey and Harry J. Lincoln — the latter of whom worked on the signature “Repasz Band March.” Fittingly then, many of the program’s selections were originally published by the now-defunct Vandersloot Music Co., formerly located on West Third Street in Williamsport — with an office on Tin Pan Alley in Manhattan. Lincoln and Losey had both been on the Vandersloot staff.

The Repasz summer concerts will also include some more recent tunes by Rossano Galante (“Liberty”) and Nathan Hervey (“Everyday Heroes”)–plus a medley of George M. Cohan hits including “Give My Regards to Broadway,” “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” the news release said.

Here’s the full schedule:

June 9, 6:30 p.m., Nippenose Valley Village; June 14, 1:30 p.m., Ways Garden in Williamsport; June 14, 6 p.m., Flag Day at Penn College; June 27, 2 p.m., America 250 Celebration in Brandon Park; July 4, 5 p.m., Eagles Mere; July 5, 7 p.m., Williamsport Scottish Rite; July 7, 6:30 p.m., Williamsport Home; July 10, 6 p.m., WeCare at Sycamore in Montoursville; August 2, 7 p.m., Brandon Park; and the Little League Parade on August 18.

More information is available at repaszband.org.