W.D. PACKARD Concert hall revels in 50th anniversary
Free anniversary concerts will be Oct. 15 and 16.
WARREN -- Several events are planned in October at W.D. Packard Music Hall in observance of the hall's 50th anniversary.
Free, public concerts by the hall's resident band, the W.D. Packard Concert Band, will be at 2 p.m. Oct. 15 and at 3 p.m. Oct. 16 -- the hall's anniversary weekend.
The concerts feature music performed at the band's inaugural concert, together with other music the band has performed over the years, said Thomas Groth, the band's associate executive director.
A special piece, called "The Packard Suite," which has been commissioned for the anniversary, will premier at the concerts. The piece, accompanied by narration and a slide presentation, depicts W.D. Packard and what he did for the city of Warren, Groth said.
Other events
Part of the band, known as The Big Band Sound at Packard, will perform at a dance from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 15.
Invitations will be issued for a 50th anniversary banquet at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 9.
Two band members, oboe player Loyal Mould, and tuba player Adone "Cal" Calderone, have been with the band since its founding 50 years ago.
Christopher Stephenson, hall manager, said DSV Builders of Warren will begin seven weeks of renovations to the restrooms and backstage dressing rooms next week. A state grant and private funds are paying for the $200,000 project.
The work on the public restrooms will be scheduled so that they will be available for use at all public events in the music hall, he said.
Tuesday's performance by country music singer Crystal Gayle was a sellout, Stephenson told music hall trustees Friday.
He also announced that student performances of "A Christmas Carol" will be at 10 a.m. Dec. 15-16, with public performances set for 7 p.m. Dec. 15, 16 and 17 and 3 p.m. Dec. 18.