The Allentown Band presents “An American Salute Commemorating Juneteenth,” 7:30 p.m. June 19, Christ Lutheran Church, Allentown.

“I am eagerly looking forward to this year’s Juneteenth concert,” says Allentown Band Conductor Ronald Demkee.

Morton Gould’s “American Salute” opens the concert. One of many works Gould created for radio broadcasts during World War II, it is a clever fantasy on the traditional Civil War tune “When Johnny Comes Marching Home.”

Christ Lutheran Church pianist Andrew Lutz-Long joins in Mark Camphouse’s “moving and dramatic ‘A Movement for Rosa,’ a quintessential work for band commissioned in 1992 to honor Civil Rights icon Rosa Parks,” says Demkee.

Guest tenor soloist Eric Fennell presents the first song-set of Aaron Copland’s “Old American Songs: The Boatman’s Dance, The Dodger, Long Time Ago, Simple Gifts, I Bought Me a Cat,” followed by the band on William Grant Still’s “Folk Song Suite.”

The Easton-based Greater Shiloh Church Gospel Choir, directed by Worship and Production Leader Aaron Pearson, performs two selections.

The second selection, “Total Praise” by Richard Smallwood, “tells the story about Juneteenth and our gratitude for God’s faithfulness and freedom to celebrate this day,” says Pearson.

The choir is joined by Eric Fennell, narrator Emile Guida and the band in Ken Moyer’s arrangement, “Freedom (Patriotic Medley).”

Christ Lutheran Church Director of Music and Organist Michael Krentz joins in the closing piece, John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

“We are fortunate to have longtime friend Eric Fennell as well as the highly regarded Greater Shiloh Gospel Choir with us for this concert,” says Demkee.

Adds Pearson, “We are honored to celebrate this holiday and find an organization who finds it important as well.”

The Allentown Band is one of 10 finalists in the Community Band-Wind Ensemble Division of the 2026 American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in the Performing Arts.

The Allentown Band has received five American Prize awards.

The concert will be livestreamed on the Christ Lutheran Church YouTube channel.

The Brandywine Colonials Fife & Drum Corps presents “Celebrating America250,” noon July 4, George Taylor House, Catasauqua.

“It is an honor and privilege to carry on the fife and drum tradition, a distinct form of American musical heritage, especially as we celebrate the semiquincentennial of American independence this year in 2026,” says Joshua Arthur Fink, vice president and drum major, Brandywine Colonials Fife & Drum Corps.

As part of “America250,” the annual George Taylor House Fourth of July celebration includes the traditional American fife and drum corps.

Says Fink, “The Brandywine Colonials perform with instruments, both fifes and drums, rooted in 18th-century American military tradition.”

Music selections include “Brandywine,” “White Cockade,” “Chester” and “Yankee Doodle.”

“Our fife and drum corps also proudly carries flags, historic banners of the American Revolution, to honor the spirit of 1776 and the soldiers, musicians, and citizens who stood beneath them. The ‘colors’ are protected by the color guard,” says Fink.

The Brandywine Colonials Fife & Drum Corps is a nonprofit based in Topton dedicated to preserving and promoting America’s patriotic musical heritage through educational programs and performances.

What began with two musicians now includes 50 who participate as fifers, drummers, flag bearers, color guardsman and camp followers.

“Classical View” is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com