FLORENCE/SHEFFIELD-The Shoals Community Band kicks off the Christmas
season with two concerts in November. First, the band will perform at Magnolia Church in
Florence on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 3 p.m. The second performance will be at the York Bluff Baptist
Church in Sheffield on Sunday, Nov. 30 at 3 p.m. Both concerts are free and open to the public.
The concert will include familiar holiday classics, medleys, and a few lesser-known pieces. As a
Shoals Community Band tradition, the performance will close with Leroy Anderson’s rousing
Sleigh Ride.
The Shoals Community Band is part of a long tradition of “town bands” that perform for the
public. It has existed off and on since the 1960s and was originally sponsored by Florence State
College (the former name of the University of North Alabama) and the Florence Parks and
Recreation department. It is now a freestanding organization, with weekly rehearsals and several
public performances each year.
All local musicians are welcome to join the band at any time. The Shoals Community Band is the
perfect way for current or former musicians to practice and perform in a friendly, low-pressure
environment. Musicians interested in learning more can contact any current member of the band,
or they can call director James Ed Champion at 256-710-8489.
Media Release/Jennifer Butler Keeton
Shoals Community Band Member
