Cedar City Community Band prepares for stellar concert, seeks more members

Written by Jeff Richards
April 7, 2022

CEDAR CITY — The Cedar City Community Band is gearing up for a star-studded spring concert to showcase Friday evening.

Cedar City Community Band conductor Steve Shirts during a recent rehearsal, Cedar City, Utah, March 30, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

All five of the band’s scheduled numbers feature stars as part of their theme. The pieces in the lineup are “Thus Spake Zarathustra” by Strauss (featured in “2001: A Space Odyssey”); “Star Wars (Main Title)” by Williams; “When The Stars Began To Fall” by Allen; “Star Trek: First Contact (End Credits)” by Courage and Goldsmith; and “Stars and Bars” by Jager.

Band conductor Steve Shirts, who has been leading the band in its weekly rehearsals each Wednesday evening, said the group currently has 57 members and is looking for more.

“We have some amazing musicians in our community,” said Shirts, who retired a couple of years ago after a storied 32-year career as Cedar High School’s band teacher. He has since been inducted into the Utah Music Educators Association’s hall of fame.

“I know there are others in our area who would be great additions to the Cedar City Community Band,” Shirts told Cedar City News, adding that a few of the group’s members come from as far away as the St. George area. “Any band musicians, high school age and up, are welcome to join.”

The community band will be the opening act for Friday night’s Southern Utah University Wind Symphony concert at the Heritage Center Theater in Cedar City. The event, which marks the wind ensemble’s final concert of the school year, is scheduled to feature music from “The Lord of the Rings” saga. 

“You will not be disappointed,” Shirts said to anyone who attends the concert.

Following Friday’s concert, the Cedar City Community Band will likely take a summer break before starting back up again in September in time for the fall concert series, Shirts said.

Those interested in joining the community band are invited to contact Shirts via email.

Event details

  • What: Concert featuring SUU Wind Symphony and Cedar City Community Band.
  • When: Friday, April 8, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
  • Where: Heritage Center Theater, 105 N. 100 East, Cedar City.
  • Tickets: $10 for adults, $5 for children. To purchase tickets online, click the “Buy Tickets” button at the SUU Arts website.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeff Richards, a native of Salt Lake City with family roots in Panguitch, lived in Moab for 20 years before joining St. George News in 2017. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. They also have three young grandsons and one granddaughter. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @stgnews@moabjeff@stgnewssports

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