Step into spring

SUN CITY – The Concert Band of Sun City has a spring in its step this season as the performers prepare for their upcoming performance.

According to Rose Kundich, President of the Concert Band, the concert will be an uplifting ode to the season.

“You are going to find a bunch of folks who are celebrating our weather,” she said.

The Sun City Concert Band horn section, along with the orchestra, play spring-themed pieces at a recent rehearsal in Fountain View. (Photos by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)

The lineup for the Concert Band’s April show will include classics from composers such as Aaron Copeland and Alfred Reed, several spring-themed marches, and more. As a “complete Copeland fan,” Kundich is especially excited to showcase Appalachian Spring, which has been a rewarding challenge.

The Concert Band currently performs two large Drendel Hall concerts in the spring and in the winter, with other performances sprinkled in between. But they didn’t start out in such grand spaces. Kundich explained that at the outset, the group contained eleven members and first performed in the hallway of Prairie Lodge in 2003.

Now, the ensemble, which is directed by Pam Jorgensen, boasts almost 60 members and performs multiple times a year at a variety of venues, ranging from Drendel Hall to the Sun City golf cart parade every summer.

The group continues to grow “remarkably,” according to Kundich, who has been a member since 2010.

Because the Concert Band is a charter club, Kundich always encourages anyone who has ever played or wanted to play an instrument to join them any time.

“We love it when new people join,” Kundich said. “If you can play one note, you’re in.”

Ensemble director Pam Jorgensen (standing) shares a laugh with the band during a break in rehearsals.

While the Concert Band clearly reaches its professional goals, their main aspiration is to enjoy and share.

“The first thing is that we want to continue to have a good time. That is the main purpose of our club, to grow the band and enjoy making music together.” said Kundich. “If we didn’t laugh throughout all of our rehearsals, we wouldn’t know what to do.”

“Let’s March Into Spring” performs Thursday, May 11 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 13 at 1 p.m. in Drendel Ballroom. Tickets are $10, and can be purchased at Fountain View on April 26 and May 3 at 9 a.m. and at Prairie Lodge May 2 and May 5 at 1 p.m.

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