The Cottonwood Community Band, under the direction of Julie Smith, presents its annual holiday concert on Sunday, December 6, 2009 at 3:00 PM at the Mingus Union High School Auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public.

This year’s concert, called “Holiday Festival”, begins with Leroy Anderson’s “A Christmas Festival”, written originally for the Boston Pops Orchestra and ends with James Curnow’s “Winter Festival”. The concert also includes many holiday favorites such as “It’s Beginning To Look Like Christmas”, “Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire”, “Ding Dong Merrily On High”, and “Silver Bells”. A tribute to Kwanzaa is the subject of Sean O’Loughlin’s “Imani” featuring ten percussionists playing a variety of instruments along with the band.

The Cottonwood Community Band consists of instrumentalists from the Verde Valley and Sedona. The members range in age from middle school students to retirees. The band rehearses on Monday evenings from 7-9 PM at the Cottonwood Middle School Band Room and presents two concerts each year as well as performing at community events. New Members are always welcomed.