The Lakeland Civic Band will perform two concerts this summer at popular outdoor Lake County venues. The first concert takes place Sunday, July 11, at 2 p.m. at the Wildwood Cultural Center, and the second concert is slated for Sunday, July 18, at 2 p.m. at the Mentor Civic Amphitheater. Both concerts are free and open to the public with all required social-distancing measures in place.

The band will play music selected from concert band classics, patriotic marches and popular favorites, reflecting the varied interests of the musicians and community.

The Lakeland Civic Band, under the baton of summer director Frank Cosenza, is also seeking new members as they return from a year of not meeting in person. Performers with at least two years of high school experience on any band instrument are invited to schedule an audition, with needs at this time being for percussion, trumpet and trombone musicians. Rehearsals are Thursday evenings from 7:30 – 10 p.m. beginning June 10, in the Dr. Wayne L. Rodehorst Performing Arts Center at Lakeland Community College.

About the Lakeland Civic Band

The Lakeland Civic Band, founded in 1977 by the late Charles Frank, is a concert band composed of Lakeland students, high school players, school music teachers and community musicians. The band is one of the few community college groups recognized with the John Philip Sousa Foundation's Sudler Silver Scroll Award for musical excellence and service to the community.

To schedule an audition, contact summer band director, Frank Cosenza, at fcosenza1@lakelandcc.edu.

About the Arts at Lakeland

The Arts at Lakeland program provides students as well as community members the opportunity to express and advance their talents by performing in exceptional musical groups, participating in professional theater productions, and submitting works of art in a variety of extraordinary gallery exhibitions.

Lakeland’s civic music program includes the Lakeland Civic Band, the Lakeland Civic Chorus, the Lakeland Civic Flute Choir, the Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra and the Lakeland Civic Orchestra.

For more information about the civic music groups, theater productions, gallery shows or auditions, contact Jeri Lynn Pilarczyk in the Arts and Sciences Division at 440.525.7261 or email jpilarczyk5@lakelandcc.edu.

To learn more about how you can support the Arts at Lakeland with financial contributions through The Lakeland Foundation, visit lakelandcc.edu/arts.

About the Lakeland Community College

For more than 50 years, Lakeland Community College has impacted thousands of lives through learning. Founded in 1967, Lakeland was the first college in Ohio created by a vote of the people. True to its mission, the college provides quality learning opportunities to more than 10,000 credit students to meet the needs of the community at its main campus in Kirtland and online.

Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, Lakeland offers more than 130 associate degree and certificate programs that may lead to high-demand careers or transfer to four-year institutions. The college also provides access to bachelor’s, graduate and doctorate degrees along with certificates and endorsements on campus through the Holden University Center of Lakeland in partnership with 11 four-year institutions.

By: Jeri Pilarczyk