For the past several years, the Lehighton Boys and Girls Band of Lehighton has presented Christmas concerts with soloist and small ensembles.

This year, the concert will be presented in classic band style. The band will perform at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16 at the Boys and Girls Band Hall. It’s free to the public, but donations are being accepted to help the band.

Over the past two months, the band has been practicing songs both at their weekly lessons and during band practices each Monday at the band hall on Sixth and Cypress Streets in Lehighton.

The songs for the concert have been selected so that even the newest players can participate in the concert.

The band opens with the song “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth” arranged by Michael Story. This song features the classic tune but gives Latin vibes with some fun and exciting percussion parts.

The next song is “Advent Carol” arranged by Griffin. Also known as “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” the haunting melody moves around the band and is a great prelude to the Christmas Season.

“Jingle Bell Rock” is one of the band’s favorite pieces to play, and the band’s rendition by John Edmondson figures to also become an audience favorite. From flutes, to clarinets, to saxes to trumpets, baritones and drums, this piece will have the audience’s toes tapping.

“A Peaceful Christmas” by James Swearingen is next. This song is based on “What Child is This,” but in Swearingen’s typical style, it’s beautifully flowing one moment and becomes dramatic in the next. This piece features Joshua Cathers on the band’s beautiful Marimba.

“North Pole Sleigh Ride” by M. Williams will be performed next, followed by “Holiday Processional” by John O’Reilly.

“Christmas Sampler” is next, and this piece consists of several snippets of Christmas carols brilliantly combined to create one cohesive song.

The final song for the afternoon concert is simply entitled “Holiday.”

For more information, go the band’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/LBGBand/

As of July 2023, the Boys and Girls Band is under the direction of Bradly. R. Cressley.