It was an exciting evening at Waldheim Park, 2400 S. Hall St., Salisbury Township, Aug. 11, as Lehigh Valley residents gathered in the outdoor tabernacle to celebrate the 100th performance of The Allentown Band at the park.

Waldheim Park, established in 1904, has over 80 cottages and an outdoor tabernacle used for weekly services and concerts.

The Allentown Band, conducted by Ronald Demkee since 1977, has recorded 28 volumes of the "Our Band Heritage" series which have reached listeners in all 50 states and 17 countries. The band has taken three trips to Europe for concerts in Switzerland and Austria.

Two guest soloists joined The Allentown Band for this special concert Daniel Rodriguez and Patricia Risley.

Rodriguez, the Brooklyn born, now-retired New York Police Department officer, helped bring a spirit of promise and hope with his rendition of "God Bless America" after the 9/11 terrorists attacks.

His voice training began at an early age and his first recital at Carnegie Hall was held at age 16. He joined the NYPD at age 30 where he became known as "The Singing Policeman." Known as "America's Beloved Tenor" he continues to inspire at performances for his chosen charities and concert halls around the world.

Mezzo-soprano Risley is a winner of a 2001 Aria Award. Her operatic performances include working with companies in New York City, Chicago, Madrid, Berlin, Houston, Santa Fe, Innsbruck, Salt Lake City, Palm Beach and Denver. She has joined the New York Philmarmonic, Boston Baroque, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Grant Park Music Festival and Oregon Symphony as a concert soloist.

Prior to the concert, Waldheim Civic President Mariosol Sosnowski and Waldheim Park President Kathy Canfield presented the first annual Waldheim Youth Missions Scholarship to Madolin Marie Wolfe for a future missions trip. Wolfe just returned from a mission trip to Haiti where she worked at an orphanage.

The packed audience was treated to music from G. Rossini's "William Tell Overature" to "Someone to Watch Over Me" from George Gershwin to a hymn sing of "Old Rugged Cross."