Eric Sandy/Sun NewsConductor Marcus Neiman leads the Medina Community Band at the gazebo at Public Square. The grass was packed with audience members who came out to enjoy the classic compositions that this band has been performing for 152 years.

MEDINA The summers are alive with the sound of music as the Medina Community Band continues its Concert on the Square throughout June and July.

The band, which boasts a membership of almost 100 musicians, conductors and vocalists, performs for one hour every Friday night. The next performance is scheduled for tomorrow beginning at 8:30 p.m. at the Medina Uptown Park Square, which is where intersections of Routes 18, 42, Broadway and Liberty streets meet.

Other performances are scheduled for July 8, 15, 22 and 29. A special July 4 performance is also scheduled. All performances begin at 8:30 p.m.

The Medina Community Band has been in existence since 1859 and is considered one of the nations oldest community bands. According to officials with the organization, the mission of the band is to afford adult musicians the opportunity to perform music as a life long learning opportunity and to perform for the community.

The band is under the baton of conductor Marcus Neiman, a Medina resident who is celebrating his 39th season as conductor for the community band. Neiman also serves as interim director of concert band at Kent State University where he is also a part-time assistant professor and supervises music education student teachers.

Im extremely pleased with how the band is playing so far this season, Neiman said Monday in an interview. Im less pleased with the weather. We got in our first concert (June 3), were rained out our second (June 10), got in about three-quarters of our third concert (June 17), and the forecast has rain all week (for tomorrows concert). The bands ready and excited, the weather isnt.

Despite the rainy season and the fact that city is reseeding a portion of the square in front of the Gazebo, Neiman said audience attendance seems to be up from last year.

Im guessing that we probably had 600 to 700 people on the first night and between 800 and 1,000 on June 17, he said.

The June 17 performance features Marcia Nelson-Kline on the cornet and Debra Bordo as vocal soloist. The concert will feature works by Mendelssohn, Berlioz, Simon, King, Anderson, Gershwin, Molloy, Goldman, Fillmore and Sousa. Ron Foster, recipient of the 2011 Medina Hospital Foundation Maestro for a Night will be featured guest conductor in the march The Washington Post by John Phillip Sousa.

Also this season, Curtis Amrein, band director for the Barberton City Schools and a trumpet player in the community band, has joined the organization as associate conductor.

This season is a bit more exciting with the addition of Curtis joining our conducting staff, Neiman said. Im excited to have him helping out with the conducting and general operational work with the ensemble and from what Curtis tells me, hes delighted to be working with the band.

Neiman says he has no immediate plays to step down from his duties as conductor; however, it was time that he found someone to help out and take over the baton when he is not able.

Its a win/win for the band, Curtis and me, Neiman added. The crowd has been warm and responsive, and its just great to be in front of the band on the square conducting such a fantastic group of people.

For further information concerning the community band and each performance, or to check out if performances will need to be cancelled due to inclement weather, visit the organizations web site at

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