The Repasz Band’s April 7 concert in Williamsport will feature a specially commissioned piece written by area native Jeremy Leidhecker — and honoring the band’s long-time conductor, Albert Nacinovich.
Slated for 7:30 p.m. at the Community Arts Center, this year’s free concert has both a theme and a dedication.
Entitled “Kaleidoscope,” the show embraces a wide selection of music focused on color: the Sousa march “White Rose”; other marches called “Purple Pageant” and “Orange Bowl”; the more recent suite “Colours”; plus additional tunes highlighting blue, green and red — even the aurora borealis.
More important, this concert features the world premiere of “Life & Legacy: A Tribute to Al Nacinovich” — composed by 2005 Loyalsock graduate Jeremy Leidhecker.
Nacinovich, who passed away in 2023, had retired in 2019 after serving as the band’s conductor for 37 years — the longest single tenure in Repasz’ storied history.
Under his leadership, the ensemble performed at the 1997 rededication of Grant’s Tomb in Manhattan — and at the 2015 sesquicentennial honoring Lee’s surrender to Grant in Appomattox. (Now nearing its 200th anniversary, Repasz had performed at the original surrender in 1865.)
Having earned degrees in music education from Mansfield University and Ithaca College, Nacinovich taught and directed in the Williamsport School District for more than 35 years.
“Al was near and dear to my heart,” says Leidhecker, “having started me on trumpet when I was about 7.” Referring to his father, local musician Bobby Leidhecker, Jeremy added, “Al was also my dad’s middle school band director, and — of course — an institution in the Williamsport area. So I am honored to contribute something to his memory.
“Musically speaking, I aimed to capture the emotions of working with him week after week for so many years as I grew my understanding of the instrument and of music. His patience, understanding, teaching techniques, kind demeanor, welcoming and warm household, are all things that ring the memory bells. He very much felt like another father or grandfather to me.”
Leidhecker’s local family of musicians also includes his mother, Aegina, and his younger brother, Chris — who passed away March 4 at the age of 36, after a busy career drumming for Amy Grant, the Newsboys, Rascal Flatts, Wynonna, CeCe Winans, Charlie Daniels and, most recently, Michael W. Smith.
Jeremy, meanwhile, currently lives in Malaga, working as a full-time composer and producer — as well as administrator for an educational institution he co-founded: the European Academy of Fine Arts. He has worked with dozens of ensembles in such places as Phoenix, Spokane, Bulgaria, Detroit, Buffalo, Thailand, Toledo and Malaysia.
His compositions have been used by Disney, Hulu, Sirius, Dell, CBS and the NFL; and his numerous honors include awards from both the CINE and Transatlantyk film-score contests, as well as the Marvin Hamlisch Film Scoring Competition.
The commissioning of Leidhecker’s piece was made possible by a $5000 grant to the band from First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania. Sponsors for this spring concert — and for the 2026 holiday concert on Dec. 8 — are as follows: Lycoming Engines (solo sponsor); an anonymous friend (duet); and the Williamsport Sun-Gazette (quartet).
The Repasz Band’s upcoming schedule includes not only April 7, but also: June 9 (Nippenose Village); June 14 (two shows — at Ways Garden, and then later for Flag Day); June 27 (Williamsport/USA250, Brandon Park); July 4 (Eagles Mere); July 5 (Williamsport Scottish Rite); and August 18 for the Little League Parade.
More information is available at repaszband.org.
