The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

The North Coast Symphonic Band will present a free concert at the historic Liberty Theater in downtown Astoria on March 4 at 2 p.m.

The concert theme, “From the Back Roads of America,” is designed by resident conductor Richard Boberg to appeal to families and those of all ages, with selections based on American folk tunes, marches, and dances.

The Brownsmead Flats folk combo will offer a pre-show performance at 1:30 p.m.

The 45-plus members of the North Coast Symphonic Band will take the stage at 2 p.m., with Laurie Drage as featured vocal soloist.

Drage, an Astorian well-known to North Coast audiences, will sing her version of “Precious Lord,” as well as a special arrangement of "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho" by NCSB resident composer Dave Robertson.

Sarah Szopinski, orchestra instructor for the Astoria School District and lead saxophonist in the NCSB, will conduct “Fantasy on American Sailing Songs” by Clare Grundman.

Conductor Boberg, who directs the rest of the concert, says, “The Band is looking forward to this free concert as our way of thanking the greater North Coast community for its support of quality instrumental music in our region.”

The North Coast Symphonic Band brings together veteran professional musicians, high school students, and a range of community members. Geographically, the group draws players from as far as Ocean Park and Cathlamet and Rockaway Beach and Oregon City.

Interested community members with band experience should call (503) 325-3891 or (503) 325-2431 or send an email to jlbowler@charter.net. The next NCSB concert, scheduled for May 6, will be devoted to swing and big band jazz, with Norman Leyden as guest conductor and special guests the North Coast Big Band.