North Coast Symphonic Band Celebrates American Music

The North Coast Symphonic Band concludes its 45th season with a free concert titled “Americans We” at the Liberty Theatre Thursday, July 3. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the concert begins at 7 p.m. The event is sponsored by a generous donation from the Astoria Clowns.

Conductor Terry Dahlgren said, “The concert will feature a celebration of American music that’s sure to have something for everyone.” In addition to the patriotic standards “America the Beautiful” and “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” the program will feature songs of yesteryear with the piece, “Songs from the Great War: The Music of World War I,” arranged by Andrew Glover, and Pierre La Plante’s “Legends and Heroes,” which features tunes from the days of the California Gold Rush and the great railroad expansion west.

“There’s plenty of lighthearted fare as well,” said Dahlgren, “including Stephen Roberts’ arrangement of the TV series theme ‘The Wild Wild West.’” Special guest vocalist Deac Guidi will be featured with the band on the Gershwin classic, “They Can’t Take That Away from Me.” Guidi will also be on deck for a rousing version of U.S. military themes, “Salute To America’s Finest.”