The Lehighton Band will begin its 2026 Summer Concert Series with a free outdoor concert at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Lehighton Park Amphitheater.

The concert is the first of three summer performances presented by the band under the direction of Bradly R. Cressley.

In recognition of America’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebration, the concert will open with a special patriotic presentation of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” featuring a ceremonial fanfare arrangement by John Moffit. The stirring arrangement was selected as part of the band’s observance of the nation’s semiquincentennial and will set the tone for an evening of musical entertainment.

The program continues with Julius Fucik’s spirited “Florentiner March,” followed by Frank Ticheli’s moving and reflective “Earth Song,” one of the most beloved contemporary works in the concert band repertoire.

A nostalgic trip through popular music follows with “The Eighties,” featuring memorable hits from the decade including “One Moment in Time,” “Billie Jean,” “Bad,” “Material Girl,” “Physical,” “Faith” and other favorites that helped define the era.

One of the evening’s featured performances will be “Let It Go” from Disney’s “Frozen,” arranged by Paul Murtha and featuring vocal soloist Laura Reichard. Reichard serves as the junior high music teacher, band director and chorus director in the Palmerton Area School District. She is also the organist at First Presbyterian Church and Zion United Church of Christ, both in Lehighton. A longtime member of the Zion Opera Workshop, she has appeared in numerous leading roles including Millie Dillmount in “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Reno Sweeney in “Anything Goes,” Mary Poppins in “Mary Poppins” and Maria in “The Sound of Music.”

The band will then present selections from “The Greatest Showman,” arranged by Paul Murtha. Audiences will enjoy many of the hit songs from the popular movie musical, including “The Greatest Show,” “A Million Dreams,” “Never Enough,” “This Is Me” and “From Now On.”

Henry Fillmore’s energetic “Klaxon March” follows before another featured performance, “Flower Duet,” arranged by Brubaker. The duet showcases two accomplished local musicians: Casi Reichard and Bob Birch.

Reichard is an accountant with Mountain Valley Accounting Associates and a graduate of Mansfield University with a degree in music education. She is also an active member of the Zion Opera Workshop and has appeared in many notable theatrical productions.

Birch is a retired music educator who remains active in the local music community. In addition to performing with the Zion Opera Workshop Orchestra and the Palmerton Band, he maintains a private teaching studio and continues to mentor young musicians throughout the region.

The concert continues with “Chicago: A Portrait in Sound,” arranged by Sims, featuring tunes from the band including “Make Me Smile,” “Fancy Colours,” and “Saturday in the Park.”

Contemporary rock takes center stage with “Uma Thurman,” arranged by Brown, followed by “Dance of the Shadows” by Sims.

The evening’s final major work is “Highlights” from The Phantom of the Opera, featuring memorable melodies from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beloved musical, including “The Phantom of the Opera,” “The Music of the Night,” “All I Ask of You,” “Think of Me” and “Masquerade.”

The concert concludes with one of America’s most beloved marches, “The Washington Post March” by John Philip Sousa.

Admission is free, and audience members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets. The Lehighton Band’s summer concert series continues on July 2 (Patriotic Concert with Community Chorus), and Aug. 20, with all concerts beginning at 8 p.m. at the Lehighton Park Amphitheater.

The Lehighton Band invites the entire community to celebrate the beginning of summer with an evening of outstanding music and local talent.