The Lehighton Band will open its 2015 season on Sunday with its annual spring concert to be presented in the auditorium of the Lehighton Area Middle School.

The concert, under the direction of Paul R. Smith will begin at 2:30 p.m. and will include a wide range of musical selections.The program will start with a snappy march written by Charles Fronheiser, former director of the Lehighton Boys Band and the Lehighton Band.This march, "Heroes Of The Pacific," was written in the 1950s and has been played by the Lehighton Band several times over the years.Fronheiser will also be featured with another march later in the program.This march, entitled "Lehighton Boys Band March" was recently discovered in the archives of the Lehighton Boys and Girls Band library.Leroy Anderson provides the next selection on the program. The band will play two movements from his "Irish Suite." Written in 1947 for the Boston Pops Orchestra and rewritten two years later for concert band, we will play the first and sixth movements: "The Irish Washer-woman" and "The Girl I Left Behind Me." Both of these numbers are challenges for the performers but will be very enjoyable for the audience."Amazing Grace" is a symphonic rhapsody of the beautiful hymn tune.The composer, John Newton, was a slave-ship captain who suddenly saw through divine grace the evilness of his acts.This well-known melody is the result of his transformation. Soloists for the concert will include Earl Knappenberger, baritone horn soloist and a saxophone trio including Mikayla Blakeslee, Ty Sharrow and Brandon Cressley.Knappenberger will play the beautiful "Love's Old Sweet Song" for his first time as a featured soloist with the band.The saxophone trio will be featured in the up-tempo "Saxes Will Rock."Again, Mikayla and Ty will be making their first appearance in the spotlight while Brandon is a veteran, having played a solo with the band last summer.On the lighter side, the band will play several hits from a number of years ago including "It Better Be Tonight," "Crooner's Serenade" and a salute to Dick Clarke called "Rock, Roll and Remember."Also on the program will be "Selections from Chicago" featuring music from the popular Broadway musical and motion picture.To close the program the band will play "Amber Waves Of Grain" based on "America, The Beautiful" and Henry Fillmore's fine march, "America Exultant."There is no admission charge to this concert however a free-will offering will be accepted.