Central Kentucky Concert Band

That’s right, the rumors are true. The Central Kentucky Concert Band is traveling to Frankfort this week!

Over the summer, the CKCB goes on tour, playing classic songs of Americana to audiences around central Kentucky. As the fall rehearsal season starts, the music we play takes on a different tone. We’ve begun to play dances from around the world, some classics of concert band literature.

This fall, however, we are able to combine the two at a concert in Frankfort on November 8th. In a concert presented by the Frankfort Arts Foundation, the CKCB will be performing patriotic songs to honor our veterans and a smattering of dance music to create a true celebratory feel. Commemorating sacrifice and commitment to one’s country shouldn’t be a solely somber affair, and we hope you will join us for this upcoming concert as we bring together waltzes with salutes, John Williams and Antonín Dvořák.

As the nights grow longer and the days get colder, we hope this concert will be a spot of warmth and light in the middle of November for you. Since our last update, we’ve welcomed new members, we’ve rehearsed and practiced, and we’re hopeful that you enjoy the fruits of our labors.

This free concert will take place at Bradford Hall on Kentucky State University’s campus, November 8th at 7:00pm. We’d like to thank KSU for hosting us and to the Frankfort Arts Foundation for presenting this concert, allowing the CKCB to travel and reach new and different audiences.

The Central Kentucky Concert Band begins its 2018-2019 season rehearsals on Thursday, September 6 in the band room at Transylvania University’s Mitchell Fine Arts Center at 7:30 PM. The band looks forward to welcoming back old friends and making new ones.

The band is composed of teachers, professional musicians, civil servants, engineers, homemakers, retired persons, and individuals representing many other professions and walks of life, all united through their love of making music. 

Prospective members are invited to sit in with the band during any or all of the first three “open rehearsals” on September 6th, 13th, and 20th. Auditions will be held during the rehearsal on the 20th for players wishing to join. Players representing all sections of the band are invited to sit in and audition.

The band has a diverse portfolio of music ranging from contemporary pieces such as Adams’ Lollapalooza, to classics such as the finale to Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4. The band’s regular season consists of three concerts in Lexington. Around the last part of June and the first part of July, the band performs several concerts as part of its “Summer Series.” These concerts are more relaxed and feature many styles of music–not just the expected marches. Occasionally, the band performs additional concerts in varied locations.

Prospective members are invited to check out the band on Facebook at Central Kentucky Concert Band. Any questions may be directed there or via e-mail at centralkycb@gmail.com. 

If you’ve followed our previous posts, you’d have seen our regular season wrap-up. During our regular season, we featured music from Shostakovich, an exploration of marches, and paid a well-deserved tribute to Leonard Bernstein.

After Bernstein, we began our summer series which took us to beautiful and historic locations in Lexington, Paris, and Bardstown. We’re so thankful for our wonderful sponsors who host us in these wonderful venues.

So much music. So much fun. So much work.

I was going to say we were going to hibernate for a while, but the first part of that word uses the Latin word for “winter”. After last week’s thunderstorm that left thousands without power over the weekend, it is very clear that it is not winter. And then there’s the calendar and heat and everything, too.

So to the virtual dictionary I happily typed. And there, contained in its virtual pages, all virtually stuffed with virtual words, was my quarry: “Aestivate.” It means to be in an inactive, dormant state in a hot and dry season, according to Dictionary.com.  Some fish, amphibians, and bugs do this. “Aestas” is Latin for “summer.” So there you go. I’ll use it in a sentence which is mostly what this post is about:

“The band is aestivating, but will reanimate in early September.” Thank you; thank you very much.

So stay tuned for announcements once we get into August.

Thanks for your interest and support for successful seasons in the past, and for incredible seasons in the future!

Historic house;

Beautiful grounds;

Shady trees;

Exciting music.

Sounds like the makings of a great summer evening to me. I know you agree.

CKCB continues its Kentucky tour by performing this weekend, July 1st, in Paris at the Garden Club of Kentucky’s Wallis House. The band starts the music at 7 PM, but you can start the picnicking earlier. Our concert is free, thanks to our wonderful friends, the Garden Club of Kentucky. Drop on by to 616 Pleasant Street and enjoy the show!

Click on the link above for a map, or use these handy directions:

From Lexington on Paris Pike, once in downtown Paris , turn right on either 7th or 6th street.  Go one block to Pleasant Street.  The Wallis House and Arboretum are on the east side of Pleasant Street between 6th and 7th.

The weather forecast is filled with sun, and we’re ready to provide some musical fun.

Please take note of Friday’s performance location change, and please pass the word.

CKCB’s Friday, June 29th concert at 7:00 PM will now be held in downtown Bardstown at the Farmers Market Pavilion, rather than at Bardstown Community Park.

Here are updated directions:

Coming into Bardstown on Hwy 150 from Springfield, or the first Bardstown exit off the Blue Grass Parkway, continue on Hwy 150/Springfield Road all the way downtown until you run into the old Courthouse on the Court Square. Turn right on N. 3^rd Street (Hwy 150 turns north here) and go one block to Flaget Avenue and again turn right. Farmers Market is in the middle of the block on your right.

The day is approaching; the weather forecasters are making great promises. CKCB travels to Bardstown’s Farmers Market Pavilion this Friday, June 29th to perform at 7:00 PM. We’re excited to be bringing a great variety of music to the picnic table. Here are some directions to the Farmers Market Pavilion (and if you are convinced we were having it at another location, you were right–this article has been updated to reflect the change in venue):

Coming into Bardstown on Hwy 150 from Springfield, or the first Bardstown exit off the Blue Grass Parkway, continue on Hwy 150/Springfield Road all the way downtown until you run into the old Courthouse on the Court Square. Turn right on N. 3^rd Street (Hwy 150 turns north here) and go one block to Flaget Avenue and again turn right. Farmers Market is in the middle of the block on your right.

Thanks to our friends at the Stephen Foster Music Club, the Bardstown Parks and Recreation Department, and their gracious sponsors, the concert is presented to you free of charge–no tickets required. Leave your week behind and enjoy a free concert to get your weekend started.

The CKCB performed at Bardstown Community Park in 2017.

Can’t make it to Bardstown this weekend? Bummer. But we’re here to help! CKCB will also be in Paris, Kentucky this Sunday, July 1. Check out our previous post for some info and stay tuned!

Bardstown; Paris; Lexington: three cities in two weeks.

Yes, the Central Kentucky Concert Band is hitting the road and embarking on our Summer Concert Series where we bring the music to you.  We’re bringing some jazz, show tunes, some marches (what would summer be without marches?) and just some  generally fun and exhilarating tunes to the musical table.

Thanks to our sponsors, the Stephen Foster Music Club, the Bardstown Parks and Recreation Department, Garden Club of Kentucky, and the Friends of the Arboretum, you can enjoy these concerts free of charge. Bring your spouse, the kids, your grandma, uncle,  and friends, and enjoy the show. Just add something to nosh, and something to keep you off the lawn, unless you like sitting on the lawn, and you’re good to go.

The music will be fun, and the locations will be beautiful.

Check out our tour schedule:

• Friday, June 29, 7 PM, Farmers Market Pavilion Bardstown, KY (Updated venue); 
• Sunday, July 1, 7 PM, Wallis House, Garden Club of Kentucky, 616 Pleasant Street Paris, KY; and 
• Saturday, July 7, 7 PM, University of Kentucky Arboretum, Lexington, KY.