The Smithtown Community Band is a professional concert band with 65 to 70 members, ranging in age from 15 to 80.
On Tuesday evening, July 12, the band performed under the stars and on the grounds of the Smithtown Historical Society. The theme of the concert was American Pop Culture from the year 1900 on through to the present day.
The band played many familiar favorites, including the James Bond and several songs from the musical West Side Story. They also played the classic rock song “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin. The performance directors also used video in the background to enhance certain songs, including “Thriller” by Michael Jackson.
Guest vocalist Georgeanna Piazza was outstanding, singling “On My Own” and “I Dreamed a Dream” from the Broadway musical, Les Misérables. She also performed “Moon River.” The audience clearly adored her.
Bill Link, the founder and director of the band, shared that the band has been around since 1987, having played over 140 concerts at various venues. They have played at the Smithtown Historical society since 2011. At the performance, which lasted for an hour, Mr. Link directed about half the concert, while the other half was conducted by associate conductor Brad Hartman.
While his current role is to conduct the band, Bill is himself an accomplished saxophone player, playing the sax since the fourth grade. Bill and three other band members make up the Saxophone Quartet, which performs at local area libraries.
The SCB partners with the Smithtown, Nesconset and Kings Park libraries, the Smithtown Recreation Department, the Smithtown Arts Council, and the Chambers of Commerce in Smithtown, St. James and Nesconset, to bring concerts to the local community.
The concert was sponsored by several local businesses, including Bunty’s Jewelry, Apple Bank and Flowers by Chazz. Food items were collected for the Smithtown Food Pantry and a raffle was held as well, with many businesses supplying the prizes.
There are two more SCB concert dates planned at the Smithtown Historical Society, set for July 19 and 26.
Visit the SCB’s website, https://smithtowncommunity.wixsite.com, where you can learn about the band, view photos, and see upcoming performance dates.
