By BRIAN WUERCH
For The Reporter
Are you looking for a fun and free way to kick off your Christmas season? Put your family and friends in the holiday spirit at the Hamilton County Community Band’s annual Christmas Concert. This event filled with seasonal music will be at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3 in the Noblesville High School Theater.
The concert is free and will feature many familiar Christmas tunes, including “The Twelve Days of Band Camp,” along with a Gustav Holst piece, “In The Bleak Midwinter” to honor Robert W. Smith, a prolific concert band composer and arranger who passed away in September of this year. Kids will also enjoy a special visit from the big elf himself, Santa Claus!
Guest conductor Joe Poio will take the podium to conduct Claude T. Smith’s “Symphonic Prelude On Adeste Fidelis.” Poio works as an adjudicator for the Indiana State School Music Association’s solo and ensemble contests, concert organization contests, and state concert band/orchestra qualifications contests. He has twice conducted the symphonic band for the Ball State University Mid-America Band Clinic and served as interim director of the Butler University Symphonic Band. He was coordinator of the Indiana State Fair Band Day Contest for 18 years.
Poio currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Central States Judges Association. He has had the opportunity to judge marching band events in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Louisiana, Florida, Illinois, and Oklahoma.
Also guest conducting is Sabin Martinez. Martinez recently completed work on a dual master’s degree in music performance and conducting from Butler University and served as the graduate assistant for the Butler University Athletic Bands. He was the winner of the 2021 concerto competition at Butler and frequently teaches and plays in bands and chamber ensembles in the Indianapolis area.
Sabin Martinez (left) and Joe Poio (right) will both serve as guest conductors. (Photos provided)
The Hamilton County Community Band (HCCB), with 80-plus volunteer members, was formed on Feb. 25, 2018, with a meeting between current director Brian Swart, Eric Thornbury, and Marc Feeney. These three men saw a need for a true community concert band in Hamilton County.
“Our mission is to have a “FUN” atmosphere that is inviting to all musicians,” Swart said.
HCCB performs multiple concerts in and around the Hamilton County area. Rehearsals are held weekly on Sunday evenings at Noblesville High School.
Please consider supporting this community endeavor at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3 in the Noblesville High School Auditorium. Bring the family and grandkids and kick off your holiday season. A freewill offering will be collected to help with the purchase of new music and equipment.
HCCB also welcomes corporate sponsors. Information can be found at HamiltonCountyCommunityBand.com.