The Lehighton Band will present its annual spring concert at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the Clyde R. Houser/Lehighton Borough Annex auditorium.

The concert will be a tribute in memory of the band's director, Paul R. Smith who passed away unexpectedly on March 20.Smith was the director of the Lehighton Band for over 50 years, and he is greatly missed by the members of the band.As a former music educator for the Lehighton School district and former director of music at Zion UCC and the Zion Opera Workshop, he touched the lives of many musicians in the area.Just three weeks before his passing, Smith was still directing the Lehighton Band.The music for this concert was selected and rehearsed by Smith, and will be presented as he chose it.Smith always took pride in selecting a concert that was varied in musical styles, and this concert will be no different.The concert will open with Jack Stamp's arrangement of "The Star Spangled Banner."The opening march is Donald Moore's "Marcho Poco."The overture is Guiseppe Verdi's "Dies Irae," which comes from Verdi's "Requiem" arranged by one of today's most prolific arrangers, Jay Bocook."Flight of Valor" by James Swearingen is a tribute to the heroes of United Flight 93 and focuses on the hymn "It is Well with My Soul." The band will also present "Jubilance," another original work from Swearingen.The band will also present the concert march "Charter Oak," which will be dedicated to Ray Hontz. Hontz, a primary clarinetist for the Lehighton Band for many years, passed away this year as well.Hontz was a big part of the Lehighton Band, and had great passion for band music. Charter Oak was one of Hontz's favorite marches, and talked of this march being played in festivals that he was involved with during his high school years.The only piece of music that was not selected by Smith for the concert will be selections from Meredith Wilson's "The Music Man."This piece was selected as a dedication to Smith, who for many, was Lehighton's Music Man due to his strong presence in Lehighton's music programs.Additional Broadway related songs will include highlights from "Ragtime," which will feature Laura Cressley on piano, and John Wasson's "Curtain Call," which portrays the style of classic Broadway songs. The band will also present s Carnegie Anthem, and Rachmaninoff's Italian Polka, which are light and enjoyable pieces."An American Spectacular" is a "musical history of the United States" arranged by Chris Sharp, which includes "The Girl I Left Behind Me," "Chester," "Shenandoah," "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," and "The Battle Cry of Freedom."The concert will conclude with Fillmore's march, "Rolling Thunder."The afternoon concert will be under the direction of Brad Cressley, with Barry Gangwer serving as announcer.A free will offering will be accepted.