Bonita Springs Concert Band opens season Nov. 5

The Bonita Springs Concert Band will present its first concert of the season Sunday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. at Riverside Park in Downtown Old Bonita Springs. The concert will honor our Armed Forces.
Performing with the band will be guest vocalist Heather Ivy, who will sing “A Tribute to Whitney,” “America, the Dream Goes On,” and “Armed Forces Salute.”
Heather Ivy, internationally acclaimed soprano, has made a headlining career on both land and sea cruising through multiple styles and genres of music.
From Bocceli to Broadway, Heather’s versatility and genuine warmth shines through everything she does. Shortly after moving to NYC, her professional career began with the Broadway international tour of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and she has since appeared in musicals such as Off-Broadway’s Christmas Wrappings, The Music Man, Guys and Dolls, Little Women, as well as operas Don Giovanni, and Elisir D’amore and Le Nozze di Figaro.
Other songs the band will play in tribute to our Veterans and active duty service men and women and their families include “The Soaring Eagle”, “Portrait of Freedom,” “Voices of the Battlefield” and “Remembering Pearl Harbor.”
Members are under the direction of Gary Smith who retired after 24 years as conductor of the University of Illinois Marching Illini Band and Symphonic Band. This is the 10th season that Gary has led the band. Gary says “the talent of these musicians is tremendous, ranging in age from 16 to 90.”
Become a “Friend of the Band.” Find out more at www.bonitaspringsconcertband.org.
The concert will also be available streamed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bonitaspringsconcertband