By Joseph W. Smith III
This year’s annual holiday concert by the Repasz Band features a sleigh-full of seasonal songs: old and new; traditional and modern; quiet and rambunctious; hymns, carols, medleys and pop tunes — with a little bit of Batman and a bit more Walt Disney.
Now nearing its 200th anniversary in 2031 — and fresh off hosting the 13th annual Liberty Band Festival in October — the renowned Williamsport ensemble will present its free concert at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the Community Arts Center.
“As always, we include a little bit of everything to entertain, and sometimes amuse, our audience and our musicians onstage,” says Repasz director Jeff Dent, who — as always — will open and conclude the show with, respectively, “The Star-Spangled Banner” and the world-famous “Repasz Band March.”
After the national anthem, Dent says, “We open with an Air Force Band arrangement of the medley ‘Holiday Celebration,’ by Larry MacTaggart.”
Dent then turns the baton over to associate director Jessica Lewis, who will lead the ensemble through “Ring Those Christmas Bells” and “Christmas Moods” — the latter a medley covering “Carol of the Bells,” “Still, Still, Still” and “O Bambino.”
Lewis — who also handles trumpet in the band — will be succeeded by assistant director (and euphonium-player) Theo Lentz. He will conduct three tunes, including the unusual “Silent Night in Gotham.” A recent composition by Julie Giroux, that latter tune gently reworks the beloved Franz Gruber hymn with subtle undertones of a Dark Knight movie.
Lewis then resumes the podium for a pair of selections, the second of which — “The Wonderful World of Christmas” — features Disney-style renditions of “Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella,” “The First Noel,” “The Twelves Days of Christmas,” “O Come, Little Children” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
“Classics like ‘Jingle Bells’ and Irving Berlin’s ‘White Christmas,’ says Dent, “are mixed with some newer, re-imaged carols including the traditional ‘Coventry Carol’ as arranged by Randall D. Standridge. A few medleys of Christmas tunes will keep the toes tapping — and feel free to hum along!”
Fittingly, Dent will finish the concert with “An Olde English Carol” — which reworks “Coventry” and includes some singing by the band — along with Giroux’s whimsical “Stocking Full of Composers.” That 2009 composition features plenty of carols — plus snatches of opera, “Nutcracker” and even Elmer Bernstein’s rousing theme from “The Magnificent Seven.” As the sheet-music indicates, “This is what happens when you invite too many composers to a Christmas party.”
Having played at Williamsport’s Victorian Christmas celebration in November, Repasz will begin its 2025 season with another free concert on April 8, followed by a joint performance with the Williamsport Civic Chorus on April 29.
The Dec. 10 program includes announcement of the band’s new Endowment Fund to assist with future programs and concerts. This particular show is generously funded by Solo Sponsor Lycoming Engines, Duet Sponsor UPMC and Quartet Sponsor Journey Bank; there was also one additional anonymous sponsor.
For more information, visit repaszband.org.
