Latest from The Allentown Band

 Allentown Band conductor Ron Demkee just received notification that he has been selected as one of two Outstanding Conductors for 2024, by the Association of Concert Bands. Ron sent this message to band members: Like my good friend Keith Hodgson, of the South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble, I am truly honored and humbled to have been selected to receive the prestigious national "2024 Outstanding Conductor Award" by the Association of Concert Bands. I'm grateful and BLESSED to have had the good fortune and honor of serving as Conductor of the Allentown Band for the past 47 years and hasten to credit and share this recognition with all of my wonderful colleagues in this venerable organization.

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 ...