Community bands to hold Giving Day Concert

The Snowbelt Musical Arts Association will be presenting a Giving Day Concert.

The July 18 event which will take place on the square in Chardon will feature both the Blizzard Youth Winds, starting at 7 p.m., and the Lake Effect Concert Band immediately afterwards.

Additionally there will be a couple of smaller ensembles performing before the concert in various areas around the square.

Food trucks from King Kone and Johnny Jr’s will also be there during the event.

SMAA Band Director/ Executive Director Greg Hillis hopes families will come out and to try the food trucks or bring and picnic lunch and enjoy the performances.

Hillis said the purpose of Giving Day is to try to raise enough money to cover the association’s operating expenses for the next year. The association is hoping to raise about $20,000 to purchase some needed percussion instruments and move into their own rehearsal space instead of having to rent space.

They currently practice at Chardon Middle School during the school year and are able to use the school’s percussion instruments. However, Hillis said that during the summer month’s they practice at Kirtland Community Center and perform without percussion, limiting what they can play.

Purchasing their own percussion instruments will cost about $4,000 to $15,000.

According to Hillis, another reason they would like to find there own rehearsal space is to avoid having to carry everything in and out after rehearsals which is a problem they face at the community center and at the Lake Metroparks Environmental Learning Center in Concord where the kids’ band rehearses.

“The day of giving is about collecting donations so the SMAA can continue to provide concerts for the community and keep them free for the audience,” Hillis said. “So far we have been doing all of our concerts on a donation basis for the audience.”

The event will go on rain or shine. If the weather is bad it will be moved into the park auditorium on the square.