May 30, 2023

🎙 Strike up the band: Area musicians to gather for summer sessions, concerts in downtown Hays

Posted May 30, 2023 7:03 PM
The Downtown Pavillion at 10th and Main will host the upcoming Hays City Band concerts in June. File photo
The Downtown Pavillion at 10th and Main will host the upcoming Hays City Band concerts in June. File photo

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

The Hays City Band will return this summer, bringing musicians young and old together for a series of concerts downtown.

“It doesn't matter if you're a person who regularly plays or if you've got an instrument that's been sitting in a closet collecting dust, no better time to break it out and make sure that thing still works,” said director Matt Rome, who during the school year serves as the Hays High School band director.

Work in other district buildings will drive rehearsals to his regular practice location.

“The high school is where we're going to be hosting rehearsals this year,” Rome said. “Last year, those of you may remember, we had to be at his middle school as they were ripping the AC unit out of my ceiling. So no falling debris this time. That'll be fun.”

And returning to Hays High allows participants to use their band instruments, for those in need, especially larger instruments like tubas, he said.

Like previous years, practices will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays through June.

Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays on June 13, 20 and 27 in the downtown Hays pavilion and run for around an hour.

“I just really want to encourage anyone and everyone who's maybe been on the fence, maybe you've come out to a concert or something and thought it might be fun to join in, please do,” Rome said. “Just give it a shot. The beautiful thing about the city band is it really is comprised of everything from amateurs and students in the area all the way up to teachers and professionals. And then, of course, everything in between.”

And while attending the entire season of practices and performances is ideal, he said, those who can participate for a limited time are also welcome.

So far, those pledging to attend have created a good blend of performers from the community.

“I think we've got a really good mix of college students, high school students, and a handful of middle school students are even stepping up,” Rome said. “A bunch of Fort Hays faculty I've talked to, and it sounds like they're in. I mean, it just sounds like it's going to be a really, really good band. And I just want as many people to experience that as we can.”

He said the music selections reflect the ability typical of an advanced middle school student.

“We kind of know that advanced middle school into like high school repertoire, we might have one or two things that stretch just a little beyond that, but most of its going to sit in that in that kind of range.”

“And like last summer, what I've tried to do is pick just a really broad variety of band literature, written as early as 1909,” Rome said. “And then up to, in fact, I think we'll play a couple that were copywritten in 2022.

“So, a really wide variety of really diverse variety of music, some classics, some new things, but like I said, really trying to stick into that, that kind of generic high school level of, of repertoire so that hopefully nobody's too stressed out trying to sit in.”

For the listener, that level of music also means it is enjoyable to most audiences. And with the performances set in the pavilion, attendees will find a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy the selections.

“People can bring their lawn chairs and just relax and enjoy an evening of some really quality, but easy listening band music,” Rome said.

And while Rome will serve as the principal director, he said others will join in.

“I'm happy to step off the podium and give some other people the chance to do that,” Rome said.

Among those others that will take the podium are Hays High principal Shawn Henderson, TMP band director Hector Hernandez and members of the FHSU faculty.

If you have questions, he said he can be contacted via email at [email protected], otherwise, performers can simply attend the rehearsals.

The Hays High School band room can be accessed by parking in the main student parking lot in front of the building.

“I'll have signs to guide you in, but there's a door directly in, so you don't have to go through the building,” Rome said.