Mat-Su Concert Band to perform last concert of the season: ‘Spirit of America’

PALMER — This Saturday, the Mat-Su Concert Band will perform its final concert of the season at the Glenn Massay Theater. The theme, “Spirit of America” is a patriotic tribute to the U.S. Military with an eccentric range of songs.

“It should be an exciting one and hopefully a very popular one,” Conductor, Gleo Huyck said.

Huyck said that some of the members have served in the military with one that’s currently active. Huyck said this concert is for them and for all the soldiers who served under the American flag.

“It means that we recognize the men and women who served to keep our country safe,” Huyck said.

He said this year marks the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the Battle of Normandy in WWII. They will perform a song called ‘Into the Fallen’ by John Williams from the film, ‘Saving Private Ryan’, which featured that iconic battle.

“We just thought it would be a good time to do that,” Huyck said.

Other songs include a tribute to Harry James, a popular trumpet player during WWII; ‘The Greatest Generation’, a song about the men and women who fought in that war; ‘America the Beautiful’; a John Williams concert arrangement of the ‘Star Spangled Banner’; and closing out with an with an armed forces salute, playing all the marches from each branch of the military.

“It should be a very uplifting concert,” Huyck said.

Huyck has been the conductor for 11 years. He said that his favorite thing about this community band is the people in it.

“They’re really fine musicians who all work really well together; and I just love the people I work with,” Huyck said.

Huyck said that the last song of the season is always bittersweet. He said that while it’s rewarding to have a grand finale to show the fruits of their labors and passions, it also marks another transition.

“It always feels good but there’s some sadness because each year we lose some of our musicians, they either retire or go outside,” Huyck said.

He said there’s about a 5 percent turnover in the band but they regularly get new members so they average about 65 members each year, with many longtime veterans still onboard. They are taking the summer off and will reunite in August to start rehearsing for the next season, which starts in October.

The Spirit of America concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $13 for adults and $7 for students. Children under 5 have free admission. Tickets can be purchased at door or online at: www.glennmassaytheater.com

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com