Strike up the band for New Orleans

Community Concert Band will play Dixieland jazz, gather instruments for stricken schools.The Laguna Community Concert Band will present a concert called “Spirit of America” featuring the music of New Orleans from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, at the Artists’ Theatre, 650 Park Ave.

“The Rebirth of New Orleans” will be the theme of this concert, which will feature Dixieland jazz performed by the entire concert band and by the SwingSet. Lead trumpeter Bill Foster will star in a Louis Armstrong takeoff of “Hello Dolly.” Other old favorites will include “Just A Closer Walk With Thee,” “Basin Street Blues” and a specialty trombone number, “Slidin’ Saints.”

Linda Hughes, longtime soloist with the band, will sing several numbers, and eighth-grade Thurston Middle School student Sophia Tupy will sing with the band. A new vocal group from Gallimaufrey will present New Orleans specialty numbers and join with the band in a final number. Actor and announcer George Wood will narrate and announce the program.

This concert is made possible through a business improvement district cultural arts funding grant.

The band, directed by Bill Nicholls and Laguna resident Ed Peterson, now features more than 50 players.

The band is working with the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation to collect band instruments that are in working order and no longer used to be sent to schools in New Orleans that lost their instruments in the recent hurricane. Instruments may be brought to the concert with the donor’s name and address in the case. A letter will be sent to the donor from the foundation indicating a charitable donation value. For information, call Carol Reynolds, (949) 497-0986.

For more information about the Community Concert Band, call Sheryl Caverly, (949) 497-2658.20060203iu1bv3nc(LA)Laguna Community Concert Band will play and gather instruments for New Orleans schools on Feb. 12.