ROCCO PRIOLETTI
Staff Writer
Today, Aidan Chamberlain will conduct the Chautauqua Community Band for their annual Fourth of July celebration at 12:15 p.m. on Bestor Plaza. This marks the band’s first of only two performances of the summer, preceding their celebration of Chautauqua Institution on Old First Night.
“We have a rehearsal the Sunday before, so it’s just one rehearsal. And some people don’t come to that, and just turn up on the day,” Chamberlain said. “But, it’s that kind of atmosphere, you know?”
People of all ages and musical backgrounds are encouraged to participate in the collective, patriotic fanfare. Chamberlain encourages people to bring their instruments and play along.
“The band’s made up of all sorts of different people,” Chamberlain said. “There are people that are here for the summer, there are people from the surrounding area, music teachers, amateur musicians from the area and we have some professionals coming in as well. It’s about 80 people altogether.”
Audiences and participants can expect a variety of patriotic music, ranging from Louis Armstrong standards to renditions of charts from Wicked.
“It’s all American music: Some are older, some newer,” Chamberlain said. “Then, we’ve got things like ‘On the Mall,’ which is a march from 100 years ago they used to do in Central Park.”
Chamberlain notes the performance’s community appeal, usually drawing a sizable crowd.
“We’ll have flags for people to wave, opportunities for the kids to conduct (and) a nice wide variety of music,” Chamberlain said. “… People can sing along, … and we have a little bit of marching for the kids and conducting.”
In the case of rain, the Chautauqua Community Band will perform at 12:45 p.m. in Elizabeth S. Lenna Hall.
The Chautauqua Community Band is supported by the Jason and Nancy Weintraub Chautauqua Community Band Endowment fund.
Jason Weintraub founded the Chautauqua Community Band in 1990. He conducted the band’s annual performances until his passing in November 2022. Established in 2015, the fund supports and honors both the band’s continuation and Weintraub’s legacy.
