Fall Fest - St. Helena Community Band

The St. Helena Community Band is underway with their fall 2023 season. Under the direction of Mr. Andy Collinsworth, Director of Bands, Department Chair at Sonoma St. Univ. The ensemble members consist of top musicians from the  Calistoga, St. Helena and Napa Communities. These dedicated musicians, both adult and local high school musicians wanting that extra experience, come together once a week to become a member in a high level ensemble.

At the October 29th Concert, the Ensemble will be performing a repertoire of high level compositions consisting of “First Suite in E flat” by Gustav Holst, “Allerseelen” by Richard Strauss, ”Halcyon Hearts” by Katahj Copley, “The Girl In Satin” by Leroy Anderson, “The National Game” (1925) by John Phillip Sousa.

Along with this literature, the St Helena Community Band will debut the composition “Ghost Light”. Napa Composer William Gantt, wrote this composition in 2020 when the world was facing a shutdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The “Ghost Light” is a long existing tradition of which a single standing light is placed in the center  of a theater, when the theater is unoccupied and would otherwise be completely dark. It would remain on stage until the reopening of the Theater. The composition represents all of us during this period of time and it  reflects the business, the shutdown and the reopening of society and our personal lives.

Please join us on October 29 at the St. Helena Performing Arts Center at 3:00. The Concert is free and a great venue to bring young musicians to listen and be exposed to this level of performance. It will be inspiring.