The Clarinet Section: Grace Benkovitz, Ann Campbell, David Sabin, Jennifer Ostrom, and Connie Dalrymple. Absent for the picture was Sarah Mattison. Our highest tone reed instrument, clarinets often share melodies with the trumpet section. They have great range and some of the fastest runs. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH — The Mid-York Concert Band is preparing for its annual Christmas Concert. We are privileged to welcome Maestro Doug Ernst as our new director, following our many successful years under the direction of Mark Sands.

Mr. Ernst was the band director at Morris Central School for 32 years. Previous to that, he was the band director at Oriskany Falls and Waterville. He received a bachelor’s degree in music education from SUNY Fredonia and a Master of Science in Music Education from Syracuse University; welcome, Doug.

We encourage musicians in the surrounding communities to grab their instruments, dust off the cobwebs, and join us as we continue preparing for our Christmas program. Rehearsals remaining are on October 25, November 8 and 22, and December 6, at 7 p.m. in the band room of the Norwich Middle School, with our concert taking place on Sunday, December 11at 2 p.m. in the High School Auditorium.

Any community member who would like to join us for the rehearsals and Christmas concert should contact Music Director Doug Ernst at midyorkband@gmail.com. It is not required that you audition.

Among others, musical selections will include “Kazachok” a Russian “Prisyadka” kick dance co-written by Tchaikovsky, and the Renaissance “Canzona” by Giovani Gabrieli as classical numbers.

There will be “A Christmas Festival” sing-along and “Hannukah, Festival of Lights." Familiar favorites will be "Sleigh Ride” by LeRoy Anderson and children will welcome the “Polar Express."

Standbys will be “The Stars and Stripes Forever," the “Star Spangled Banner,” and a musical tribute to our Armed Forces.

This ensemble is made possible with public funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by The Earlville Opera House.

-Information provided by the Mid-York Concert Band