VGCC Community Band entertains large Mother’s Day audience

The Vance-Granville Community Band performed its second annual outdoor Mother’s Day concert on May 9 at the Gazebo on VGCC’s main campus.

According to Michael Stephenson, the college’s music instructor and director of the band, the “absolutely perfect weather” and the beautifully landscaped setting enhanced the experience for the approximately 300 attendees, who were seated on blankets and lawn chairs. The concert program included everything from popular Civil War melodies, to Broadway and film scores, to popular marches. A special ensemble of band members presented a New Orleans Dixieland Music review. Clint McCaskill, the band director at J.F. Webb High School and a member of the Community Band, served as guest conductor for “Monterosi” by Jacob de Hann.

Formed in 2008, the community band is a combination of students and interested citizens. All four counties of the VGCC service area (Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin) are represented in the band, which has grown to approximately 50 members. For more information, call Michael Stephenson at (252) 738-3346.

Above: From left, Community Band members Trey Wade (drums), Ellen Andrews (tuba), Sarah Adcock (trombone), Bill Davies (trumpet), Carl Cantaluppi (clarinet) and Shelton Williams (tenor saxophone) play New Orleans Dixieland music as part of the band’s outdoor Mother’s Day concert. Davies is the band director at Southern Vance High School. (VGCC photo)