ATHOL — The home of the Red Raiders is about to welcome musicians from the wild blue yonder.
Heritage Brass, a 13-member subgroup of the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band, has a concert scheduled for Athol High School at 7 p.m. on Monday June 13. The brass musicians are slated for six performances in as many days during a Northeast trip in which they will also hit Vermont and New York. The concert in Athol is free and open to all.
Staff Sgt. Michael Mannella, a trombone player and tour manager for Heritage Brass, said the concert’s theme is based loosely on the idea of melodies and how they can be manipulated. He said many of the songs the musicians will perform were written with melodies not originally intended to be played with brass instruments. He said the show will feature a great deal of Americana.
According to the concert’s program, the group will serenade the audience with selections from “Old American Songs” by the late American composer Aaron Copland, and other tunes. After a 15-minute intermission, the musicians are expected to perform more songs, including “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”
Mia Haringstad, the tourism director for the North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, said her office jumped at the chance to host Heritage Brass.
“It was one these absolutely wonderful opportunities,” she said. “We’re extremely happy.”
More information is available at www.heritageofamericaband.af.mil or the Heritage Brass Facebook page.