Citrus Heights resident Linda Glover is shown playing her trumpet during a Capitol Pops Concert Band performance in 2018. // Image credit: Melissa Hardin
Sentinel staff report–
The Citrus Heights-based Capitol Pops Concert Band will host a “Sounds of the Season” performance at the Rusch Park Community Center this Saturday.
The holiday-themed concert will be held on Dec. 10, from 7-9 p.m. at the park, with access at 7801 Auburn Blvd.
“We have put together a special concert for the community and look forward to sharing the gift of music with you this holiday season,” the band posted on an Eventbrite listing page. The listing says the event will be free, but donations will be accepted.
Capitol Pops was formed in February 1997, the same year Citrus Heights became a city, with longtime local resident Linda Glover serving as the band’s manager.
Citrus Heights resident Linda Glover is shown playing her trumpet during a Capitol Pops Concert Band performance in 2018. // Image credit: Melissa Hardin
By Thomas J. Sullivan– Longtime Citrus Heights resident and trumpet player Linda Glover serves as band manager of the Capitol Pops Concert Band, a locally based band that traces its local roots back to cityhood.
“We started in February 1997, just one month after the City of Citrus Heights was incorporated,” Glover told The Sentinel in an interview. “Some of us were sent letters asking if we were interested in joining a community band, and after that first rehearsal, we were playing music and eager to get started.”
Glover said the CPCB is a fully instrumental band of volunteer musicians and workers. The Citrus Heights-based, self-supporting, nonprofit community band of about 50 current members represent a wide cross-section of the Sacramento area, ranging in age from high school to the 80s.
Twenty-two years later, the CPCB is proudly bringing Boston Pops-style popular music to the Citrus Heights community for free and steadily building its audience, Glover said. “We’re in it to celebrate the joy of playing music for our audience.”
Under the baton of Director Judith Steinle, the concert band regularly performs in the Sacramento region.
“The most rewarding part about being music director is hearing the band play music that they worked hard to learn well and seeing both players and audiences enjoying themselves,” Steinle told The Sentinel. “We play music that is both fun to play, and fun to listen to. There are plenty of opportunities for soloists, and also for returning players who want to brush up on old skills.”
Glover says some of the band’s members have been with the group since the very beginning, but the band is always looking for more players.
“We really need more brass players, especially those who play trumpet, trombone and baritone horn,” said Glover. “We used to have about 72 band members but we’re down to between 45-50. We would certainly welcome more.”
The Capitol Pops Concert Band membership dues are $50 annually. Guest musicians are always welcome to “sit in” and play. The band meets Thursday evenings in Fellowship Hall at the Christ the King Lutheran Church, at 5811 Walnut Ave. in Orangevale.
The band had previously used concert space at San Juan High School on Greenback Lane to rehearse, but that space became no longer available. Glover said the concert band would like to return to dedicated rehearsal space of its own in Citrus Heights.
“I’ve always been a strong advocate that the city of Citrus Heights needs a dedicated performing arts center,” Glover said.
“Many in the arts community here in our city share that dream of a performing arts center, I’ll never stop bringing it up to members of the city council and community leaders to help see that dream come true,” Glover said.
Tax-deductible donations to the Capitol Pops scholarship fund provide private music lessons for interested student members. Contributions to a special memorial fund helps in the purchase of new music for the band.
If you would like to join the Capitol Pops Concert Band call (916) 725-5214 for more information. Visit their web site at www.capitolpops.org or their Facebook page to view the latest performance schedule.
Guest article by Linda Glover–
The Capitol Pops Concert Band continues its 22nd season with a free, open to the public holiday concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, at the Rusch Park Gym, 7801 Auburn Blvd., in Citrus Heights.
Under the baton of Director Judith Steinle, CPCB will once again play traditional holiday favorites, seasonal musical hits and carols.
This performance, sponsored by the Sunrise Recreation and Park District and the City of Citrus Heights, is family friendly and a great way to usher in the holiday season. The two-hour concert includes a 20-minute intermission.
Various prizes will be on display for the raffle ticket drawings. In addition, there will be a silent auction on special, one-of-a kind items. The public also will have the opportunity to purchase a variety of colorful poinsettias after the concert concludes. Longtime CPCB supporter Eisley Nursery of Auburn has donated a large poinsettia plant as a grand prize in support of the band’s student scholarship fund.
Started in 1997, the CPCB has performed a diverse portfolio of high-quality, well-prepared music heard by thousands of concert-goers throughout Northern California. Based in Citrus Heights, the self-supporting, nonprofit community band of about 50 musicians represents a wide cross-section of the Sacramento area.
Sentinel staff report–
The Citrus Heights-based Capitol Pops Concert Band plans to “ring in holidays” and close out its 20th season with a free holiday concert on Dec. 2 in the Rusch Park Gym. The two-hour Saturday event begins at 7 p.m. and will also feature a raffle and 20-minute intermission.
According to a news release from Band Manager Linda Glover, the concert will feature traditional holiday favorites, seasonal musical hits and carols, and a Christmas sing-along. The evening’s performance will be under the baton of Director Judith Steinle.
The raffle is set to feature several prizes, including a large poinsettia plant donated by Eisley Nursery of Auburn, with proceeds going to support the band’s student scholarship fund and other band expenses.
Capitol Pops has been a self-supporting volunteer band since 1997, made up of about 60 members ranging from teenagers to those in their 80s, according to the band’s website. The nonprofit group says they encourage student participation and often perform at community events in the Sacramento region, including several in Citrus Heights each year.
The band has performed at the Citrus Heights Red, White & Blue Parade, “Boos and Brews” at the Citrus Heights Community Center, and concerts at San Juan High School.
The upcoming Dec. 2 event is sponsored by the Sunrise Recreation and Park District. For more information, visit www.capitolpops.org
*Note: although the Band’s online calendar indicated baked goods would be available at the concert, the Band later confirmed this was incorrect.
