BR Concert Band will play songs from around the world

Fuel prices won’t affect this trip in any way.

Just take a seat inside Independence Park Theatre, and let the Baton Rouge Concert Band do the driving.

Or flying, because this trip begins in the United States, then makes its way around the world, introducing audience members to Korean folk songs, Armenian dances and even an African ceremony.

And once the plane lands, audience members will have had a full international experience.

The band will offer this musical trip at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 6, when its annual spring concert takes on the theme “International Sounds.”

The band usually performs its spring concert earlier in the year.

“We had some scheduling conflicts with Independence Park Theatre,” said band spokesman James Kersh.

“They’re really busy, and they stay booked.”

So, the performance was pushed back to May. But that’s OK. What better way to kick off summer vacation than with international inspiration?

And this concert definitely will inspire prospective travelers to get ready for summer trips, even if their destinations are local.

The music lineup begins with John Philip Sousa’s “Hands Across the Sea,” then proceeds to Pierre La Plante’s “A Little French Music.”

From there, it’s to Norway with Edvard Grieg’s “Norwegian Dances No. 2,” then it’s a quick trip to England with Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Folk Song Suite.”

Now get ready to dance, because the band serves up Alfred Reed’s “Armenian Dances (Part II)” and Jan Van der Roost’s “Dublin Dances” before intermission.

But the dancing doesn’t stop there. The band will open with Johann Strauss’ “Tritsch-Tratsch Polka” after intermission.

The program will be rounded out with Jaime Texidor’s “Amparito Roca,” Robert W. Smith’s “Africa: Ceremony, Song, and Ritual,” Johannes Brahms’ “Hungarian Dance No. 5,” Gioachino Rossini’s “Italian in Algiers” and John Barnes Chance’s “Variations on a Korean Folk Song.”

“We have a lot of variety in this program,” Kersh said. “There are a lot of different sounds for people to enjoy.”

The Baton Rouge Concert Band’s next performance will be its annual Memorial Day Concert at 7 p.m. Monday, May 28, on the steps of Louisiana’s State Capitol.

A full program of patriotic music is planned for that performance.

The band is a nonprofit community organization formed by Vernon Taranto in June 1977. It is currently under the direction of conductor Sheily Bell. Daniel Modenbach is the assistant conductor, and Lew Carter is the moderator.

The band is made up of some 60 local volunteer musicians ranging in age from 18 to 82. Included in its membership are music teachers, educators, doctors, lawyers, chemists, engineers, technicians, computer specialists, retired persons, college students and homemakers.

And all will come together on May 5 as tour guides of sorts, leading their audience on a musical trip around the world.

• BATON ROUGE CONCERT BAND MEMBERS: Flute — Heidi Bain, Heather Constant, Laura Efferson, Catherine Herman, Marla Scarmado; Oboe — Brenden Simoneaux, Lydia Wilson; Bassoon — Bond Lux, Dottie Smith; Clarinet — Steven Boone, Trish Crochet, Kathryn Denommee, Richard Granger, Su King, Charlie Modenbach, Daniel Modenbach, Kristina Shapiro; Bass Clarinet — Sharon Lambert; French Horn — Ellen Bordelon, Cameron Kidder, Wesley McCoy, Jeff Miller, Wayne Woodall; Alto Saxophone — Matt Foval, David Holland; Tenor Saxophone — Rick Barrios; Trumpet — Wayne Ballew, Gary Bankston, Mark Courter, Alan Honeysucker, Patricia Krimmel, Janet Schoonmaker, Richard Smith, David Wallace; Trombone — David Carubba, Richard Kilpatrick, Doug Stoeckle, Christyn Waldrop, Tyler Sellers; Euphonium — Joe Ford, Everett R. Hurley, Jim Kersh, Armand Link; Tuba — Louis Bordelon, Mark Crochet, Gary Stewart, Rick Waldrop, Jim Young; Percussion — Jonathan Alcon, Jonathan Boswell, James Bourdier, Chris Demas, David Giroir, Charlie Marquette, Randy Smith, Katy Strickland.