Robertson County Community Band’s 2023 Christmas Concert will take place on December 12 at the Byrum Porter Senior Center, 9123 Highway 49 East in Mitchellville/Orlinda, Tennessee. Beginning at 7:00 p.m., it is free and open to the public.
The traditional Christmas Concert will include all of the old holiday favorites, like “O Christmas Tree,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “A Nutcracker Spectacular,” and “Sleigh Ride.” There will also be a number of additional melodies, songs and hymns.
While the holiday concert is all seasonal music, during the rest of the year they play a wide range of music from the classics like Tchaikovsky to the patriotic marching music of John Phillip Sousa to the big band sounds of Duke Ellington, as well as contemporary composers from around the world.
Giving adults an opportunity to play music and entertain the community on a regular basis, the more than 20 members of the band play seven free concerts per year. Predominantly composed of seniors, they are often joined by high school and college students. Members come from all over the county: Goodlettsville, Clarksville, Springfield. Greenbriar, White House, Millersville, Cross Plains, and Pleasant View. They rehearse every other Tuesday, with breaks in July and December.
The band was founded in 2005 by Chris Reeves. Since 2017, it has been managed and conducted by Wade Smith. Smith is an Associate Professor of Music at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, Tennessee, the Minister of Music at New Life Baptist Church and a freelance composer, arranger and orchestrator.
New members are always a welcome addition; they are currently looking for woodwind, brass and percussion players. New players can simply join them at their next rehearsal, which will be in January. They rehearse every other Tuesday evening in either Greenbriar or Springfield between 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
“Feel free to bring your instrument to one of our rehearsals and check us out,” says their website. “Or come to a concert and chat with us afterwards. You can also send us a note with any questions you might have. We welcome all concert band instruments. We are currently looking for tubas, French horns, baritone euphoniums, trombones and saxophones.”
