Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Carrie Hudson

Intern Reporter

The Central Kentucky Concert Band performed at Rock Fence Park last Saturday.

The band formed roughly four decades ago at Transylvania University in Lexington and has been going strong ever since.

“The band started about 43 years ago at Transy, the band director at the time was Peter Martin. Still, we have our practices and several performances there at Haggin Auditorium,” said band member TJ Thomas.

Throughout the band’s lifetime, several members have stayed since the beginning and continue to perform.

“We actually still have people that have been in the band the whole time; that is something really unique,” Thomas said.

The process of selecting the pieces to perform includes a lot of thought and consideration for the audience.

“Overall, we try to pick pieces that are challenging, fun, compelling and interesting for both the members and the audience. Then we try to pick a program that is interesting- not all marches, not all slow, so it is a nice mix for the group,” said band director Steven Pederson.

Given the Central Kentucky Concert Band is a community band, the members have a variety of professional and playing backgrounds.

“There are adult players, but a lot of professional players, and those who have played their entire lives and are doctors and lawyers and teachers,” revealed Pederson.

Together, the members make a unique and high-level performing band. Pederson stated, “The level of the group is really, very high for community bands. Most community bands don’t play at that level.”

The band’s high-performance level has brought them many opportunities to play at venues ranging from the Lexington Opera House to the Wallis House in Paris.

And to them, Rock Fence Park proved to be an enjoyable venue.

“It worked out well. The new auditorium is nice and the crowd was really good,” stated Pederson.

Thomas added, “I had lived here for eight years, so it was nice to perform here again.”

To view the Central Kentucky Concert Band’s upcoming performances and learn more about it, check out its website at https://ckcb.org/2018/05/08/crafting-the-score/.