Community Corner

No. 96: The Northport Community Band

Under the continuous direction of Bob Kreuger, it kicks off its 53rd year in Northport Village Park July 7. As usual, if there's rain at 8, it's no date.

Thursday night outdoor concerts in the gazebo are a smmer tradition in Northport.

Each week, hundreds of people gather on Village Park lawn and boaters drop anchor in the harbor specifically to listen to the free concerts performed by a fully instrumented band of 75-80 intensely dedicated players.

This year will be no different as the has been tuning up for the 2011 concert season, it’s 53rd under the continuous direction of founder and Musical Director Robert W. Krueger.

Krueger and Associate Director Donald M. Sherman will kick off the summer series of free concerts under the stars at the Robert W. Krueger Bandstand overlooking  Northport Harbor on Thursday, July 7th, at 8:30pm.

Each concert, which is free and has its own theme, offers a blend of overtures, marches, light classics and popular favorites and includes such weekly features as the Northport Chorale, and various guest conductors and performers.

  • July 7 – Star-Spangled Spectacular will kick off the season with a selection of patriotic favorites.
  • July 14 – Song and Dance will feature performances by the Northport Community Jazz Orchestra and
  • July 21 – The Great American Songbook will feature guest conductor Tom Gellert of the Huntington Community Band, as well as performances by Maria and Tanya Vassallo.
  • July 28 – Opera Night in the Park will feature guest vocalists Marie Michalopoulos and Kim Ianuzzi.
  • August 4 – Our 50th Anniversary Finale will include our traditional annual performance of Tchaikovsky's "1812" Overture with two cannons specifically designed and built for the band.

Programs are posted in PDF prior to the concert on the band's web site. Bring a lawn chair, blanket and picnic dinner. All concerts begin promptly at 8:30pm and, as usual Kreuger's motto is, "Rain at 8, no date."  Each concert lasts approximately 70 minutes. The playground is closed during the concerts.

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Recently, Krueger was honored by the Association of Concert Bands at their annual convention in Muskegon, Michigan. At the convention banquet held on May 13th, Bob received the Herb and Jean Schultz Mentor Ideal Award, which recognizes exceptional teachers who have inspired their students to achieve success as outstanding concert band musicians.


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