b'Ben Williams, a renowned trombonist, leads Swing Town, a 20-piece jazz ensemble, that performs early big band, swing and dance tunes.in college) but cant wait to come backplayer needs to join. Its programs range and play with us for the summer.fromtraditionaltunesbycomposers Neal Weiss, a 20-year member ofsuch as Ralph Vaughan Williams and bothSwingTownandtheConcertGustav Holst to Sousa marches, holi-Band, marvels that I attended my firstday music, Broadway medleys, as well MCM rehearsal after not playing ten- as contemporary pieces by young and or sax for 25 years. After the conduc- less well-known composers.tors first downbeat, I was right back toBenWilliamscontinuestoplay reading and playing music; it was liketrombone and baritone in the Concert no time had gone by. Alan Schneider,Band and to lead Swing Town. Susan Treasurer for MCM, has been playingWilliamsstillplaystrombonewith with Concert Band and Swing TownboththeConcertBandandSwing for 18 years including several [times]Town and is the operations manager where my three children played along- forPorchfest.AndJedwabnikably side me. MCM is probably one of thejuggleshisdutieswiththeLivings-most inclusive and welcoming groupston School District with directing the in the community. Concert Band.In the model of the traditional com- Come see the Maplewood Concert munity band, no musicians are turnedBand play its holiday concert on Dec. away from the Concert Band; the de- 12 at 7:30 at The Woodland in Maple-sire to play music in an ensemble is all awood. If youd like to find out more aboutMaplewoodCom-munityMusic,whether youre interested in playing an instrument with one of theensembles,donating, or just getting more infor-mation, go to maplewood-communitymusic.org.For information about Porch-fest, visit maplewoodporch-fest.com. Sue Kaplan is a proud band nerd. Shes played the clari-netwiththeCommunity The bands programs range from traditional tunes byConcertBandformostof composers such as Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gus-tav Holst to Sousa marches, holiday music, Broadwayits 20 years and is a MCM medleys, as well as contemporary pieces by youngBoard member.and less well-known composers.feature story /31'