May 30, 2006

Gackstatter to help Ark City Community Band begin 135th season

Led by conductor Gary Gackstatter, who is the director of instrumental music at Cowley College, the Arkansas City Community Band will begin its 135th year of concerts at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Wilson Park Rotunda. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.

The ACCB is the oldest band of its kind in the state of Kansas, being formed in 1871, just one year after the city site was officially laid out. Early performances include the Cherokee Strip Land Run and the celebration of the first steamship to come up the Arkansas River.

More recently, they have performed at two Kansas Bandmaster Conventions and its regular Thursday night summer concerts are popular events.

The concert will include marches, popular songs of days gone by, military themes and some big band swing numbers. Conductor Gary Gackstatter will be featured on his arrangement of "Homesteaders" with co-conductor Chris VanGilder on the podium.

The concerts will continue on Thursday nights throughout June and July.