I continue to be awed and inspired by our Atascadero Community Band (ACB) and Sunday at their Fall Concert, again they did not disappoint me. This group of talented musicians continue to play for their love of music and they volunteer their time rehearsing and performing to share that love with the community.
The performers vary in age and background. Some are retired from non-musical careers, some are students studying music, some are still in the workforce, and some just belong to the ACB because music is who they are and they can’t live without it.
Not everyone in the band lives in Atascadero. I have met members from other parts of SLO County. For instance, Guest Conductor Randy Schwalbe lives in Cambria.
Randy earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from UCLA and studied choral conducting with UCLA’s Dr. Donald Nuen. He served as a high school band director, led a 35-voice community choir for 25 years, and has been a prominent guest conductor of several community bands in Southern California. He has also conducted and directed various musicals and an opera. He represents just one example of the talented members of the ACB, a nonprofit organization.
Before their concerts, members select a nonprofit to receive donated proceeds from the event. The concert itself is free to the public, but guests are encouraged to donate. On Sunday, the Atascadero Printery Foundation was the chosen nonprofit, working to rehabilitate the historic Printery on Olmeda in Atascadero. The Foundation is collaborating with Atascadero Performing Arts Center Committee to create a performing arts venue as part of the rehabilitation, along with other community uses.
On Sunday, ACB enjoyed sharing an afternoon of music with the audience in the ABC Church sanctuary. Music included pieces written by Johannes Brahms, Gilbert and Sullivan, Modest Mussorgsky, Dmitri Shostakovich, and Aaron Copland, to name a few.
The ACB invites you to join them for their upcoming holiday performances. The Atascadero Tree Lighting and Sing-Along will take place on Friday, Dec. 6, from 5-7 p.m. on the steps of City Hall, 6500 Palma Ave., Atascadero, across from Sunken Gardens.
Holiday Concert 2019 is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 15, from 2:30-4:30 p.m., at the pavilion on the lake, 9315 Pismo Ave., Atascadero. Admission, refreshments and parking are free. The nonprofit recipient of donations will be announced at a later date.
For more information, visit atascaderoband.org or email atascaderoband@gmail.com.
The Elegant Evening Downtown in Paso Robles will take place Saturday, Nov. 16, from 5-8 p.m. Downtown merchants offer open houses, refreshments, entertainment, music, and drawings for prizes. For more information, call the Main Street Association at 805-238-4103.
A Holiday Craft Bazaar will take place on Friday, Nov. 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Paso Robles Downtown City Park. Handmade crafts and holiday gift items will be available for your shopping pleasure!
Save Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. for the 58th Christmas Light Parade in Paso Robles.
The Main Street Association, along with the City of Paso Robles and community volunteers, invites you to “Light Up Your Holidays” at the parade in the downtown area.
Atascadero Chamber of Commerce has received a grant for $15,000 from Pacific Premier Bank in support of their BridgeWorks Coworking Space.
BridgeWorks is the first North County coworking location, featuring 21 coworking spaces on site. The Chamber is committed to making it possible for people to work where they live. Coworking is an economical solution that adds flexibility, so that patrons may enjoy and optimal work/life balance.
For more information on the coworking space, contact the Atascadero Chamber at 805-466-2044.
Don’t forget Coats for Kids. Get those warm, gently worn coats, jackets, sweaters and sweatshirts to the drop-off boxes or any of the north county cleaners, where they will clean them at no charge. Committee members will pick them up. For drop-off locations and other information visit coats-for-kids.net.
Enjoy the season.
Cheers!
