Pomona Concert Band's 2025 Summer Concerts

Dear Friends of the Pomona Concert Band and Supporters,

The Pomona Concert Band announces its 78th Annual Summer Concert Series to be held at the G. Stanton Selby Bandshell, behind the Community Center building in Ganesha Park, 1575 North White Avenue, on Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m. starting July 10th.  The band is sponsored by the City of Pomona. This year the series will include eight Thursday evening concerts with the finale on August 28th plus one bonus concert.  All performances are free to the public, so bring you lawn chair, visit the band's concession stand or bring your picnic basket, and enjoy an evening of music.

The Pomona Concert Band is under the baton of Linda W. Taylor, Artistic Director and Conductor, and Assistant Conductor Kerry Kline.  Band members come from Pomona and more than twenty surrounding communities to make music together.  The Pomona Concert Band was founded by G. Stanton Selby in 1947 as part of a local Pomona American Legion Post.  The Band has represented the City of Pomona in countless events and performances over the years, including tours of Europe and Japan in 1985 and 1988.  The band represented the city in April 2015 with a stellar performance at the Association of Concert Bands Convention in Sacramento, California.

The opening concert on Thursday July 10th is titled "Viva Musica" and will feature music with a slight Latin flavor.  The band will be directed by Linda Taylor and Kerry Kline.  Mayor Tim Sandoval will be the Master of Ceremonies for the evening that will include "Viva Musica!," "Noche de Luna Entre Ruinas" with marimba soloists Lucas Critchfield, Jasenia Morningstar and Horacio Peralta, "El Abanico," "Iron and Ice" and "The Picador" by John Philip Sousa.

The band will show that PCB's Got Talent during our second concert on Thursday July 17th with a concert titled "An Eclectic Experience" and MC'd by Councilman Nora Garcia.  It will feature many of our regular band members conducting pieces chosen from various genres.  We are very fortunate to have these talented individuals in our band and we want to give them a chance to shine.  We will feature band member conductors Fiona Karbel who plays trombone, trumpeters Christopher Northrop and Liza Zumbrunnen, bassoonists Carly Miller and George Osorio, percussionist James Thompson, and Pat Arnold from the sax section.

"A Bark in the Park" will be the theme for the third concert on Thursday July 24th, directed by Linda Taylor and Kerry Kline and MC'd by Columnist David Allen.  A lighthearted show with music that was written for man's best friend that will include "The Hounds of Spring," "The Whistler and His Dog," "Firehouse Rag," "Cats," and finally "That Old Hound Dog Rag."

The fourth of the band's summer concerts will be Thursday July 31st with the theme of "The Great U.S.A.," directed by Linda Taylor and Kerry Kline and MC'd by Paula Lantz.  The concert features music written for different regions of our country and several of our great cities.  The show includes "Midwest March," "An American Elegy," "Savannah River Rhapsody," "Charleston Harbor Celebration" and Sousa's "Atlantic City Pageant."

On Thursday August 7th the band will present our fifth concert titled "Linda's Musical Kaleidoscope" directed by Linda Taylor and MC'd by Columnist David Allen.  Linda's choice of music will include "Where Eagles Soar," "Drumbeat Jamboree" featuring Lucas Critchfield and Jim Thompson, "Skyward Spirits," "MacArthur Park" and double billing of "At the Movies."

On Thursday August 14th the band will present a concert titled "Echoes of Gershwin" directed by Kerry Kline and MC'd by Linda Taylor.  The concert will feature music that inspired George Gershwin, was inspired by Gershwin or written by Gershwin.  Selections will include "Concert Prelude," "Second Suite in F," "Chorale and Alleluia," "Second Prelude from Three Preludes," and "The Symphonic Gershwin."

For concert number seven on Thursday August 21st the band will present "Music Through the Decades" directed by Linda Taylor and Kerry Kline and MC'd by Paula Lantz.  Popular and show music has progressed over the years and our examples will include "Big Band Spectacular," "The King and I," "The British Invasion: Hits of the 6," "Jimmy Buffett - The Hits," "Theme from 'JAG'" and "Game of Thrones."

The Pomona Concert Band will present their special bonus concert when we host the Golden State British Brass Band at a special time and date on Sunday August 24th at 6:00 p.m. in the G. Stanton Selby Band Shell.  Conductor Jack Hollander will take the brass band through a wide variety of British band music along with many American favorites.  They have been a crowd favorite in the past   Don't miss this great addition to this year's concert schedule!

The Pomona Concert Band's final summer concert on Thursday August 28th is titled "Salute to America" and MC'd by Councilman Steve Lustro.  The concert will feature music written to celebrate our country.  Included in the program are "Red, White and Blue," "American Folk Rhapsody," "Eternal Flame," "American Riversongs," "Salute to the Armed Forces" and will close with John Philip Sousa's "The Stars and Stripes Forever."  Lots of great music for your enjoyment to close out the band's 2025 Summer Concert Series.

This year promises to be the best summer of music yet, so please join the Pomona Concert Band for their 78th season of Music in the Park representing the City of Pomona.

You can follow the Pomona Concert Band on their website at www.pomonaconcertband.org to view their concert schedule plus photo gallery and video gallery.  The band has a YouTube Channel, along with Facebook, X and Instagram websites.  So click on the icons at the bottom of this email and visit our sites and let us know what you think.

Donations to the band are always welcome and appreciated.  The community can help support the Pomona Concert Band by becoming a supporter of The Friends of the Pomona Concert Band at the FRIENDS level ($99 & under), PATRONS ($100+), BENEFACTORS ($500+) and DISTINGUISHED BENEFACTORS ($1,000+).  All Donor's names will be included on every program and our website for the entire concert season.  The Friends of the Pomona Concert Band is a registered charity under Internal Revenue Code Section 501 C (3).  Checks may be made out to:  Friends of the Pomona Concert Band, P.O. Box 2753, Pomona, CA 91769.

Sincerely,