The next Allentown Band holiday concert celebrates several “presents” that the band and its conductor have received.

The Allentown Band performs its “Christmas Concert,” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9, Jordan Lutheran Church, Orefield. The concert is free and open to the public.

Allentown Band Conductor Ronald Demkee received a special honor during the “Americans We Tribute to Veterans Holiday Concert,” Nov. 17, Miller Symphony Hall, Allentown.

Dr. Christian Wilhjelm, State Membership Chair, Association of Concert Bands (ACB), presented Demkee with the ACB Outstanding Conductor Award for 2024.

“One of the privileges I enjoy with the Association of Concert Bands is the opportunity to review and present the ACB Outstanding Conductor Award,” said Wilhjelm.

“We have many very fine, dedicated conductors working with our bands and members of our distinguished committee can all testify to the tremendous amount of time and energy involved in leading a community band,” Wilhjelm said.

“I am both proud and humbled to have been named recipient of the Association of Concert Bands Outstanding Conductor Award for 2024,” said Demkee, adding, “I hasten to share this honor with all members of the Allentown Band who made this possible.”

In addition, the Allentown Band was awarded Second Place in the American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in the Performing Arts.

The American Prize recognizes and rewards the best performing artists, directors, ensembles and composers in the United States at professional, college-university, community and high school levels, based on submitted recordings.

Demkee says he looks forward to the Jordan Lutheran concert:

“The winter holidays are always a wonderful time of year and we have a great line-up of holiday selections for this concert.”

The concert opens with the “Bay State Commandery March” by American composer-conductor William Franklin Burrell (1855-1909).

When the Bay State Commandery, Brockton, Mass., hosted the Golden Gate Commandery of San Francisco, Calif., during the Triennial Conclave, Boston, Mass., in 1896, Burrell surprised the Californians with a new march written in their honor.

Next are three compositions by American composer Morton Gould (1913-1996): “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” “Silent Night” and “Jingle Bells.”

Gould, a child prodigy recognized for his abilities in improvisation and composition, penned his first composition at age six.

John Higgin’s “Christmas on Broadway” entertains with selections, including “God Bless Us Everyone,” “It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas,” “March of the Toys,” “Pine Cones and Holly Berries” and “We Need a Little Christmas.”

Band saxophonists Greg MacGill and Mike Trach and trumpeters George Pearce and Dave Sendef are featured in Doug Wagner’s “Christmas in the 50s,” followed by the John Williams-Paul Lavendar arrangement of “A Home Alone Christmas.”

The concert continues with the Jerry Brubaker arrangement, “Concert Suite from Polar Express” with the selections “Believe,” “The Polar Express,” “When Christmas Comes to Town” and “Spirit of the Season” followed by the Warren Barker arrangement of “An Irving Berlin Christmas.”

The Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” features trumpeter Gregory Seifert. Next are the Leroy Anderson favorites “Sleigh Ride” and “A Christmas Festival.”

The program closes with “Stars and Stripes for Christmas” by Robert E. Foster that combines the John Philip Sousa march with holiday songs such as “Hallelujah Chorus,” “Jingle Bells” and “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.”

Allentown Band, “Christmas Concert,” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9, Jordan Evangelical Lutheran Church, 5103 Snowdrift Road, Orefield. Free and open to the public. Tickets not required. Information: https://allentownband.com

“Classical View” is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com