Holiday Concert
2025-12-14 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Galvin Middle School, Wakefiled, MA
Celebrate the season with the Middlesex Concert Band at our annual Holiday Concert! This festive afternoon of music will feature cherished holiday favorites alongside fresh takes on seasonal classics, all sure to bring joy and holiday spirit.

This year’s performance is presented free of charge, thanks to the generous support of an anonymous sponsor. Bring your family and friends and enjoy an afternoon of music that will warm your heart and brighten your holidays.

So take a break from the holiday bustle, relax, and let the music of the season surround you. We look forward to sharing this joyful tradition with you!

Program Details:

A Winter Journey – Randall Standridge

This piece is a joyful, rhythmic celebration of winter travel and the people waiting at the other end of the road. Using the familiar melody of Over the River and Through the Wood as its foundation. I’ve combined it with original material to create a fast-paced ride in a compound 12/8 meter — perfect for evoking the galop of hooves, the jingle of bells, and the crisp energy of a snowy day (Source)

A Christmas Intrada – Alfred Reed

A Christmas Intrada represents an attempt to portray, in musical terms alone, five contrasting moods associated with the festivities of the Christmas season. These five sections are played without pause. They are: Fanfare: Christus Natus Est, for brass, chimes, bells and percussion only; Lullaby for the Christ Child played by the woodwind and saxophones; Processional of the Kings and Shepherds played by the full group; Carol for the Holy Night for woodwinds, saxophones and muted brass; and, finally, Wassail and Alleluia beginning with the bells and chimes alone, and gradually growing to include not only the full group but also antiphonal brass choirs, to bring the entire work to a joyous and triumphant conclusion. (Source)

March of the Toys – Victor Herbert

This march is part of the operetta Babes in Toyland, composed by Victor Herbert in 1903. Toyland is a magical land where two children experience all sorts of adventures. This quick march in a pseudo military style depicts a scene in the operetta where toy soldiers rescue the two children. Victor Hugo (1859-1924) was born in Ireland, but spent his youth in Germany where he studied composition and cello. He found fame in America as an (operetta) composer and conductor. (Source)

Grown Up Christmas List – Michael Brown — April Foley vocal soloist

hough originally recorded by David Foster with Natalie Cole, the 1992 version by Amy Grant is largely responsible for this song’s continued popularity. This inspiring ballad will add a special lift to any holiday concert, and Michael’s great-sounding arrangement can be performed effectively with or without a vocal soloist. (Source)

Minor Alterations No. 2 – David Louvrien

Looking for something REALLY different for this year’s Christmas concert? Here’s a game of holiday hide-and-seek for your audience! Minor Alterations: Christmas Through the Looking Glass is a medley of favorite Christmas tunes, transposed from major to minor keys then disguised, layered and morphed even more. From the ominous Deck the Halls at the start to the final, frenzied Nutcracker Suite finale, each tune is lovingly twisted into something new and inventive. (Source)

Snow on Snow – Megan Vinther

Capturing the quiet beauty of winter, this lyrical and introspective work blends haunting original melodies with Gustav Holst’s beloved In the Bleak Midwinter. Delicate textures and rich harmonic progressions evoke the peaceful stillness of snowfall, inviting performers and audience to pause and reflect. Serene and expressive, this piece is a perfect addition to winter or festival concerts, offering a moment of calm amid the season’s bustle. (Source)

Christmas With Mozart – Julie Giroux

An absolute delight to add a fresh lift to a holiday concert. Familiar holiday melodies are cleverly interwoven with some of Mozart’s motifs in an up-tempo Mozartean setting.

This arrangement is in a Mozart-ish style using a number of Christmas carols in combination with a few of Mozart’s, Bach’s and other composers’ works. Fast, fun and full of tunes –see if you can find them all! (Source)

Fanfare for the Festival of Lights – Evan Vandoren

“Fanfare for the Festival of Lights” weaves two traditional Hanukkah melodies, Ma’oz Tzur and The Dreidel Song into a colorful, rousing celebration! Evan VanDoren has masterfully crafted an approachable, mature-sounding composition that will challenge your best performers while meeting the needs of your developing players. Get your next holiday concert started with energy and excitement! (Source)

The Eight Candle – Steve ReisteterThe Eighth Candle remembers the story of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. It begins with an extended hymn-like section followed by an exciting dance of celebration. The feast commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian-Greek tyrant Antiochus over 2,180 years ago. Legend has it that after the battles were won there was only enough oil for the ceremonial lights to last for one day, yet by some miracle the oil lasted for eight days. Hanukkah is celebrated by the family in the home rather than in the synagogue. In modern times candles are lit, one for each day of the holiday, prayers are recited, then the feast and merrymaking begin. (Source)

Santa Baby – Philip Springer – April Foley, Vocal Soloist

“Santa Baby” is a song performed by American singer Eartha Kitt with Henri René and His Orchestra and originally released in 1953. The song was written by Joan Javits and Philip Springer, who also used the pseudonym Tony Springer in an attempt to speed up the song’s publishing process. Lyrically, the song is a tongue-in-cheek look at a Christmas list addressed to Santa Claus by a woman who wants extravagant gifts such as sables, yachts, and decorations from Tiffany, which become increasingly laced with innuendo and the implication that the woman is infatuated with Santa. (Source)

Fireside Christmas – Sammy Nestico

our auditorium will glow with warmth and good will when your band performs this charming medley! Featured in the medley are: Winter Wonderland; I’ll Be Home for Christmas; The Christmas Song; Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Sammy Nestico has wrapped them all up in a sparkling package that will warm everyone’s heart! (Source)

Christmas Carol-oke – arr. Larry Clark – April and the audience sing-a-long

There is nothing more fun around the holidays than singing Christmas carols in a large group. What better way to spruce up your holiday concert than to have your audience participate in the concert with a good old-fashioned sing-along? This arrangement contains eight popular carols: “O Christmas Tree,” “Jingle Bells,” “Deck the Halls,” “Jolly Old St. Nicholas,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Silent Night,” “Up on the Housetop,” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” (Source)

Sleigh Ride – Leroy Anderson.

Sleigh Ride is a light orchestra standard whose music was composed by Leroy Anderson. The composer had formed the original idea for the piece during a heat wave in July 1946, and he finished the work in February 1948. The original recordings were instrumental versions. The lyrics, about riding in a sleigh and other fun wintertime activities, were written by Mitchell Parish in 1950. The orchestral version was first recorded in 1949 by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra. A selection of the artists who have recorded it include Herb Alpert, The Andrews Sisters, The Carpenters, Bing Crosby, The Boston Pops Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald, the amazing Debbie Gibson, The Muppets, and Andy Williams. (Source)

March Concert
2026-03-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Galvin Middle School, Wakefield, MA
Shake off the winter chill and welcome the new season with the Middlesex Concert Band at our annual Spring Concert! This lively afternoon of music will feature an exciting mix of pieces that celebrate the energy and renewal of springtime. This year is special – we are celebrating the 250th Birthday of America!

As with our holiday concert, this performance is presented free of charge, thanks to the generous support of an anonymous sponsor. Bring family, friends, and neighbors, and enjoy an afternoon of music that will lift your spirits and brighten your day.

Join us as we continue a tradition of community, music, and joy. We look forward to seeing you there!

Program:

Fanfare 250 – Noah D. Taylor

A dynamic and celebratory work dedicated to the men and women of the United States Army in recognition of their 250 years of steadfast service. The piece captures the spirit of resilience, bravery, and unity that defines the Army’s history with bold brass fanfares, driving percussion, and soaring woodwind lines. A salute to a quarter millennium of dedication, sacrifice, and service to the nation! (Source)

Concord – Clare Grundman

Concord is based on three traditional tunes from old New England, The White Cockade, William Billings’ America, and “Yankee Doodle. (Source)

Chester – William Schuman

Schuman originally composed Chester as the third movement of his New England Triptych for orchestra, where he interpreted William Billings’s hymn and marching song of the same name. He later developed and extended the work to become an overture for band; however, the work is often performed as the answer to Schuman’s second movement prelude of the Triptych, When Jesus Wept. (Source)

Midnight Ride – Rossano Galente

Three main themes comprise Midnight Ride by Rossano Galante. Paul Revere’s motif is a romantic, heroic melody that captures his bravery and tenacity. The Brown Beauty theme (Paul Revere’s horse) incorporates a slower, lush musical offering that captures the strength and beauty of this animal. The ending thematic material represents the ride with a soaring melody accompanied by fast, rhythmic ostinati. (5:45) (Source)

American Elegy – Frank Ticheli

An American Elegy is, above all, an expression of hope. It was composed in memory of those who lost their lives at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, and to honor the survivors. It is offered as a tribute to their great strength and courage in the face of a terrible tragedy. I hope the work can also serve as one reminder of how fragile and precious life is and how intimately connected we all are as human beings. (Source)

Chimes of Liberty – Edwin Franko Goldman

One of his most popular marches, The Chimes of Liberty reflected Goldman’s pride in his country. His concern for other countries and world peace was evident as well: the march was written in 1922 to commemorate the Washington Conference for the Limitation of Armaments. The chimes are featured prominently, carrying the melody in the trio. The march also boasts a piccolo solo that rivals the piccolo solo in John Philip Sousa’s march The Stars and Stripes Forever. (Source)

Intermission

Land of Liberty – John Wasson

Featuring classic patriotic melodies of our great nation, here is a stirring medley for mature bands. Unique treatments and scoring devices blended with seamless transitions are used to create this impressive work for the concert stage. Includes: Columbia, The Gem of the Ocean; Chester; Yankee Doodle; America the Beautiful and My Country, ‘Tis of Thee. (Source)

Variations on America – Charles Ives

Variations on “America” was originally a composition for organ. Composed in 1891 when Ives was seventeen, it is an arrangement of a traditional tune, known as My Country, ‘Tis of Thee, and was at the time the de facto anthem of the United States. The tune is also widely recognized in Thomas Arne’s orchestration as the British National Anthem, God Save the Queen, and in the former anthems of Russia, Switzerland, and Germany, as well as being the current national anthem of Liechtenstein and royal anthem of Norway. (Source)

Selections from Les Miserables – Music by Claude-Michel Schonberg/arranged by Warren Decker

This work for musical theater had a renewed impact all over the world with the adaptation to the silver screen. All the drama and power of the original music is captured in this medley, which includes At the End of the Day; I Dreamed a Dream; Master of the House; On My Own and Do You Hear the People Sing? (Source)

Irving Berlin Songs for America – Irving Berlin/arranged by James Swearingen

A fantastic arrangement of songs by one of America’s greatest songwriters. Includes: Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor; This Is the Army Mister Johnes; This Is a Great Country; and God Bless America. (Source)

America the Beautiful – Samuel Augustus Ward/arranged by Carmen DragonStars and Stripes – John Phillip Sousa

Harvard Concert
2026-04-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Lowell Lecture Hall, 17 Kirkland St, Cambridge
We will be doing a joint concert with the Harvard Wind Ensemble, and possibly another group. Details to come soon!

Boston Festival of Bands
2026-06-13 17:00 - 17:45 | Faneuil Hall, Faneuil Hall, Boston, MA, 02109, United States
The Boston Festival of Bands, hosted by MetWinds, is returning this year. MCB is excited to be able to participate. We are scheduled to play at 5:00 PM to close out the event.

After a hiatus of several years, this beloved gathering of community bands is finally back. We’re honored to be part of its return and can’t wait to once again share the stage with some of the region’s finest ensembles for an afternoon celebrating wind music.

The Festival takes place in historic Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston. Known as the “Cradle of Liberty,” this landmark has been a gathering place for nearly three centuries and sits just steps from Quincy Market and the bustling Faneuil Hall Marketplace — a fitting and inspiring setting for the Festival’s long-awaited homecoming.

Our Program

Havana Nights — Randall D. Standridge

A Jubilant Overture — Alfred Reed

Americans We — Henry Fillmore

Determined Hearts — Erika Svanoe (commissioned by MCB for our 50th Anniversary)

The Symphonic Gershwin — George Gershwin, arr. Warren Barker

Hymn to a Blue Hour — John Mackey

We hope you’ll join us in Boston for an afternoon of great music!

4th of July
2026-07-04 19:00 - 21:30 | 100 Slayton Rd, Melrose, MA
Middlesex Concert Band returns to Mt. Hood Golf Course in Melrose for America’s 250th Independence Day!

A beloved annual tradition, MCB comes back to Mt. Hood each summer for our Fourth of July celebration. Join us under the summer sky for an evening of patriotic favorites, stirring marches, and Broadway and big-band classics as we mark the nation’s 250th birthday — featuring vocalist April Foley and a rousing sing-along finale.

The concert takes place on the lawn beside the clubhouse at Mt. Hood, the City of Melrose’s public golf course. Seating is on the grass, so bring blankets and lawn chairs, gather the whole family, and settle in for a festive evening of music.

Our Program

The Star-Spangled Banner — Francis Scott Key (April Foley, vocalist)

Armed Forces Medley — arr. Jari Villanueva

Fanfare 250 — Noah Taylor

Concord — Clare Grundman

Midnight Ride — Rossano Galante

But Not for Me — George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, arr. Warren Barker

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy — Hughie Prince, lyrics by Don Raye, arr. Alan Glasscock (April Foley, vocalist)

Chimes of Liberty — Edwin Franko Goldman

The Symphonic Gershwin — George Gershwin, arr. Warren Barker

Irving Berlin: Songs of America — Irving Berlin, arr. James Swearingen

God Bless America — Irving Berlin, arr. Keith Christopher and John Moss

Ultimate Patriotic Sing-A-Long — arr. Warren Brubaker

The Stars and Stripes Forever — John Philip Sousa

Concert by the Lake
2026-07-16 19:30 - 21:00 | Lake Quannapowitt, Wakefield, MA
Join the Middlesex Concert Band for a relaxed summer evening of music on the Common in Wakefield, on the shores of Lake Quannapowitt.

Pack a blanket or a couple of lawn chairs and settle in by the water for an evening of patriotic favorites, marches, and Broadway and big-band classics — featuring vocalist April Foley. And the fun doesn’t stop when we do: stick around afterward for Wakefield’s free outdoor movie night on the Lower Common, screening Disney’s Tangled.

Our Program

The Star-Spangled Banner — Francis Scott Key (April Foley, vocalist)

Fanfare 250 — Noah Taylor

Concord — Clare Grundman

Midnight Ride — Rossano Galante

But Not for Me — George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, arr. Warren Barker

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy — Hughie Prince, lyrics by Don Raye, arr. Alan Glasscock (April Foley, vocalist)

Chimes of Liberty — Edwin Franko Goldman

The Symphonic Gershwin — George Gershwin, arr. Warren Barker

Irving Berlin: Songs of America — Irving Berlin, arr. James Swearingen

God Bless America — Irving Berlin, arr. Keith Christopher and John Moss

Ultimate Patriotic Sing-A-Long — arr. Warren Brubaker

The Stars and Stripes Forever — John Philip Sousa
