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Brooks strikes up Community Band
Posted: April 20, 2011 - 6:04pm

By Becky Harris
It’s time to dust off those instruments and get your embouchure in shape.

Yes, Ricky Brooks is ready to strike up the Community Band.

After an astounding success of the first season, the second season will begin Monday night with a re-organizational meeting at 7 p.m. in the Conway High School West band room.

Rehearsals will begin at 7 p.m. on May 2 and continue each Monday night in May and June. After every third rehearsal, there will be a concert.

Concerts will be at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 20; Friday, June 10; and Friday, July 1 at the Kris Allen Stage in Simon Park in Downtown Conway.

The later start time this year will help fight the heat and the glare of the setting sun, Brooks said.

He expects another good year for the band that last year had participants from ages 16 to 80.

“There are several band directors and UCA faculty members in the community band, but mostly the band is just folks who want to play again,” he said. They come mostly from Conway but also drive in from Morrilton, Heber Springs, Little Rock and other surrounding areas.

A jazz band will be added this year, Brooks said, with that band appearing in concert with the Community Band.

Brooks is director of bands at the University of Central Arkansas. Tim Cunningham, associate conductor of the Community Band, is UCA’s assistant director of bands.

Starting a community band has been a dream of Brooks for years. “Conway used to have a community band, directed by Russell Langston. I don’t know why they stopped, but it’s been dormant for many years.

“We were able to get it going again last year with the help of Kim Williams, the Downtown Partnership and the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce. We are grateful to them,” Brooks said.

The band has received an invitation to perform at the Arkansas Bandmasters Convention at the DoubleTree in Little Rock the end of July, Brooks said.

“Hey, a road trip after only one year. That’s not bad,” he said.

For more information, contact Ricky Brooks at 450-5764 or email him at rickyb@uca.edu

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Good for Brooks and Cunninngham.....the great sound of the BMB is just one of the great musical products UCA offers......even us football neanderthals might find this a great time filler during the off season...