Fred Hughes, director of the New Holland Band, is interested not only in the music the group chooses to perform, but also in the history of the nation's second-oldest community band. Specifically, Hughes recently recounted the New Holland Band's first actions after becoming the Victory Band more than 80 years ago. "The first concert with the band after they marched in the July 4, 1942, parade was in the New Holland Park," stated Hughes, adding that the band played near the swimming pool because the band shell had not yet been constructed. He noted that there is a photo of the band at the New Holland High School taken that day just prior to the parade.

This year, the New Holland Band will continue the tradition of playing in the park on Independence Day with a concert sponsored by the High Foundation as part of the band's new Concerts in the Park Initiative. The program is designed to bring the New Holland Band to county parks to perform throughout the summer. The band will perform patriotic tunes in the band shell at the New Holland Community Memorial Park in the 400 block of Jackson Street on Friday, July 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own blankets and lawn chairs. There is no rain date for the event. 

During the concert, the band will perform two sets of well-known favorites, such as "American Salute," "The Stars and Stripes Forever," and "America the Beautiful." Broadway tunes that will be featured will include selections from "The Music Man." The evening's music will also pay homage to piano tunes with band member Rich Fitz performing Billy Joel's "Root Beer Rag." "It's a fun piece, and Rich does a great job playing it on the piano," noted Hughes. 

Hughes is especially looking forward to presenting Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" at the end of the concert with plans for some audience participation in the piece known for its booming cannons. "We won't have cannons, but we will have something to replicate (that sound)," explained Hughes. "We will ask people to help us out with it. It will be a fun surprise."

More information about the band and a schedule of concerts, including the Sunday, Aug. 17, Concerts in the Park series event at 7 p.m. at Thomas P. Grater Park in Ephrata, may be found at https://newhollandband.org.