The Lehighton Area Middle School music department will hold its 17th annual Spring Instrumental Concert on Wednesday, May 4, at 7 p.m.

The fifth and sixth grade band, under the direction of Mr. Weidner, will begin the program."Character," composed by Larry Clark will be their first selection. The band will then perform the Native American inspired original "Anasazi" by John Edmondson and "Manhattan Beach," a classic march by John Phillip Sousa. They will conclude their portion of the program with Journey's "Any Way You Want It."The jazz ensemble, under the direction of Weidner, will perform next. The jazz ensemble will perform an original inspired by Count Basie called "Basie-Cally The Blues." Eighth graders Rayann Lehman and Mikayla Blakeslee will be featured on this selection.Next, the piano work of Emily Cerimele will be featured on Duke Ellington's "Azure." The jazz ensemble will conclude their portion of the program with the disco classic "Y.M.C.A." Matthew Shanton, an eighth grade percussionist, will be featured on this selection.The seventh and eighth grade band, under the direction of Beth Perkins, will then perform. The band will begin with a classic overture entitled, "Excellentia Overture," followed by two contemporary pieces entitled, "A Spirit Unconquered" and "Paramount Park." The band will enter the classical arena with Vivaldi's "Harvest Echos," which is from his masterpiece "The Four Seasons."Eighth grade percussionists Christopher Lawler and Matthew Shanton will be featured on a novelty number entitled, "Mallet Maniacs."The seventh and eighth grade band will conclude the concert with "Pulsar."The Lehighton AMVETS Post 106 will also present awards to the winners of a poster and essay contest that they annually sponsor.Admission is free and the public is invited to attend this event.