Latest from The Allentown Band

Followers of The Allentown Band likely are very aware that Ron Demkee, a very long-tenured conductor of the band, also has been the Associate/Pops Conductor and Principal Tuba Ronald Demkee of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra. Ron is retiring from these positions at the conclusion of the 2023-2024 season, which will be his 45th season as a member of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra. (FEAR NOT! Ron is continuing in his position at the band's helm.) “Live music in the Lehigh Valley and Ron Demkee are synonymous,” said ASO Music Director/Conductor Diane Wittry. “We are honored at the Allentown Symphony to have had such a long association with Ron both as Principal Tuba and as Associate/Pops Conductor. " Ron's tenure with the Allentown Symphony started in the 1979-80 season when he became principal tuba, and first performed in that role in January 1980. He became Associate Conductor in 1983, assisting founding Music Director Donald Voorhees, and occasionally leading classical

Each spring since 2005, The Allentown Band has presented an ambitious program with participation by advanced high school student musicians from high schools throughout the Lehigh Valley and surrounding area. It is an honor for the Allentown Band to have these gifted high school musicians join Side-by-Side in concert at Allentown's historic and beautiful Miller Symphony Hall. The Allentown Band's 2024 Side by Side Concert will be held at 4:00 PM, Sunday April 28th at Miller Symphony Hall. We are pleased to announce that Joseph Alessi, Principal Trombone with the New York Philharmonic, will be our featured soloist. The program will be conducted by Ronald Demkee and Guest Conductor Col. John R. Bourgeois (ret.) conductor emeritus of the United States Marine Band, "The President's Own." Admission is free but tickets are required. Contact Miller Symphony Hall Box Office 610.432.6716, or order online at www.millersymphonyhall.org. The full program for this concert is av

  Paul Cohen Paul Cohen is a sought-after saxophonist for orchestral and chamber concerts and solo recitals. He has appeared as soloist with the San Francisco Symphony, Richmond Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Charleston Symphony and the Philharmonia Virtuosi. His many solo orchestra performances include works by Debussy, Creston, Ibert, Glazunov, Martin, Loeffler, Husa, Dahl, Still, Villa-Lobos, Tomasi, and Cowell. He has also performed with a broad range of orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera (NYC), American Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Santa Fe Opera, New Jersey Symphony, Oregon Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Long Island Philharmonic, Group for Contemporary Music, Greenwich Symphony, and New York Solisti. He has recorded three albums with the Cleveland Symphonic Winds under the direction of Frederick Fennell and a CD of the music of Villa-Lobos with the Quintet of the Americas, as well as recordings with the Philharmonia Virtuos

 With sadness, The Allentown Band reports the passing of Donald Albright, trumpet player and long-time assistant conductor. Donald became a member of the trumpet section in 1969, and was elected assistant conductor in 1982, and every year after that until his resignation from the band last year in 2022. Donald was a graduate of William Allen High School and West Chester University, degree in music education. He taught music at Raub and Trexler Middle Schools in Allentown. As a performer and conductor, Donald was active in many groups besides the Allentown Band. He played with the Jolly Bavarians, Windjammers Unlimited and the Bud Rader Orchestra . More about Donald at legacy.com

  The Allentown Band performs a concert of remembrance and hope to benefit Ukraine humanitarian efforts, Sunday August 20, 2023, 3:00 PM at Allentown's Miller Symphony Hall. The concert also celebrates Ukraine Independence Day, which is August 24th. For this special occasion, the band welcomes guest soloist Patricia Risley, mezzo soprano, guest conductor Johan De Meij, and the Bel Canto Youth Chorus of the Bethlehem Bach Choir, under the direction of Joy Kirokawa. The program opens with Finlandia by Jean Sibelius, a tone poem depicting the resilience of a people resisting the oppression of a foreign power. Johan de Meij conducts his own Symphony #4, Symphony of Songs  with Patricia Risley and the Bel Canto Youth Chorus. This composition expresses loss and hope in six songs: 1. A Year Has Now Passed; 2. When Your Dear Mother; 3. Reunion; 4. The Hostile Brothers; 5. Early Spring; 6. Song of the Harlequin The Bel Canto Youth Chorus follows this with Prayer of the Children  by Kurt Bes

  Each Spring since 2005, The Allentown Band has presented a Side by Side Concert with approximately 50 advanced high school musicians joining to perform side by side in a concert with The Allentown Band. The Allentown Band's 2023 Side by Side Concert will feature Omri Barak, Principal Trumpet with the Allentown Symphony, soloist. The program will be conducted by Ronald Demkee and Guest Conductor Major Ryan Nowlan, Assistant Conductor with the U.S. Marine Band, "The President's Own." The Allentown Band will be joined by top high school musicians from the Lehigh Valley for second part of the program. Participating student musicians are selected based on their exceptional talent and recommendation of their respective Band Directors. The program features music of American composers John Williams, Percy Grainger, Leroy Anderson, James Curnow, Ryan Nowlin and John Philip Sousa. Admission is FREE but tickets are required, and may be ordered from the Miller Symphony Hall Eve