YSU’s Gage to lead fest’s combined band

Staff report

PITTSBURGH

The Three Rivers Community Band Festival will bring together three of the best community bands in the western Pennsylvania region, plus a combined festival band led by Stephen L. Gage, director of bands at Youngstown State University.

The festival, now in its 13th year, will be Saturday from 2:30 to 5 p.m. at Upper St. Clair Theater, 1825 McLaughlin Run Road.

Jim Cunningham of WQED-TV will return as host. Admission is free, but contributions to support the festival are appreciated.

The festival band will be comprised of 95 musicians from 55 community bands in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, including members of the Youngstown Area Community Concert Band. Its performance will begin the festival.

The event is a showcase of the region’s musical talent, and the program will appeal to a wide range of tastes.

Three Pittsburgh-area community bands also will perform at the event.

These include East Winds Symphonic Band, which founded the festival, and Community Band South.

Joining the festival this year as the regional guest band will be the Mon Valley Community Band.

A reception will follow the concerts. For information, go to ewsb.org/festival.