Upcoming band convention means free concerts on Pensacola Beach
National band convention begins Feb. 28 at Hilton Garden Inn

Free concerts, camaraderie, and great band music will be the focus of the 29th annual Association of Concert Bands convention on Pensacola Beach February 28 through March 4. This year's convention is hosted by the Pensacola Civic Band and will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn, 12 Via de Luna Drive.

Throughout the week, community band members from all over the county will enjoy clinics, special luncheons, an annual banquet and tours of the beach, NAS and the historic districts as well as nightly concerts by several guest bands. One of the highlights of the week for convention attendees is playing in a special convention band under the direction of a notable conductor. This year, the ACB is fortunate to have Dr. Lowell Graham from the University of Texas at El Paso as the Convention Band director. Dr. Graham is the former Commander and Conductor of the U.S. Air Force Band in Washington, D.C. Other guest bands are chosen to perform by audition, and then travel to the convention city to perform. The concert schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, Feb. 28

9:00 p.m. Army Ground Forces Band, Fort McPherson, Georgia

Thursday, March 1

7:30 p.m. Mobile Pops, Mobile, Alabama

8:45 p.m. Tallahassee Winds, Tallahassee, Florida

Friday, March 2

8:00 p.m. Baton Rouge Concert Band, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

9:15 p.m. Plano Community Band, Plano, Texas

Saturday, March 3

3:00 p.m. Association of Concert Bands Convention Band, Dr. Lowell Graham, conducting

7:30 p.m. Gainesville Community Band, Gainesville, Florida

8:45 p.m. PENSACOLA CIVIC BAND (hosts), Pensacola, Florida

All concerts take place in the Ballroom of the Hilton Garden Inn on Pensacola Beach and are free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Robin Rowan, 2007 ACB Convention Chair, at 850.433.1319.