Published: July 04, 2009 03:56 pm      

Municipal band ends season with concert in Fuqua

DUNCAN — And music filled Fuqua Park.

Between 55 and 60 musicians from Duncan and surrounding areas in Stephens County performed an hour’s worth of songs Thursday in the park. This was the third and final performance this year of the Chisholm Trail Municipal Band.

Jeramy Haas, band director, said he has had a great time working with the band. Haas said the band has been rehearsing since May 28 and has done well this season.

“It always goes so quickly,” he said.

The concert came just two days before Independence Day, and many of the songs played were patriotic. This includes the first and last songs the band performed.

The band began with the “Star Spangle Banner” and wrapped with “God Bless America.” Both times, people stood in recognition of their country.

But these weren’t the only times the music got people to stand. During one segment, the band performed military marches. For each march, whether National Guard, U.S. Army, Navy, Coast Guard or Air Force, veterans who served in those entities were asked to stand to be recognized by the band and the crowd.

When a march tune began and those veterans represented by the song stood, the crowd applauded. They remained standing until the march changed.

Haas said that some of the music selected for Thursday’s concert was specific for that day, but some of the other tunes played were from the first concert or the second performance.

“We’re doing a conglomeration,” he said. “It’s a little bit of everything thrown in here, tonight.”

The parking lot around the park was filled with cars. The lawn in front of the gazebo was crowded with various people from the community. Families could be seen setting up lawn chairs or throwing down blankets to prepare for the program.

Haas said the number of people who turned out can be encouraging for the musicians because it makes their hard work pay off.

“It’s a good crowd,” he said.

While the day might have been hot, the crowd and the band benefited from the shade of the trees, a slight breeze and lemonade provided from St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.

Haas said it was almost like nature knew how to take care of the crowd and band members to keep them comfortable during the concert.

“It’s cooled down a little bit,” Haas said. “There’s good shade from the trees.”