Lincoln Area Music Society Opens Summer Concert Series with a Broadway Theme

[June 04, 2025]  

The Lincoln Area Music Society (LAMS) Community Band opened its outdoor concert series on Sunday evening with a Broadway-themed concert. Sunny weather and low humidity made for a perfect evening to enjoy live music in Latham Park.

The band was directed by Riley McDorman, Millikin graduate and band director at Athens High School. The concert was emceed by Terry McDorman.

Per tradition, the concert opened with “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and then began music that reflected the evening’s theme with a medley of songs from “Phantom of the Opera” composed by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and arranged in this medley by Warren Barker. The music of the night continued with “Highlights from Mary Poppins” composed by the Sherman brothers, followed by selections from “Beautiful,” the Carole King musical. The next number was the well-known theme song from “Hello, Dolly!,” which closed the first portion of the concert.

The band then took a ten minute intermission, which afforded the audience and band the opportunity to enjoy delicious homemade cake with ice cream prepared by the Lincoln Woman’s Club. The proceeds from the cake and ice cream sales at each summer band concert support the Lincoln Woman’s Club charitable works and scholarships.

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The band opened the second half of the concert with a medley of songs from “Hamilton” written by Lin Manuel Miranda and arranged by Jerry Brubacker. This number was followed by a medley of songs from the beloved musical and film, “The Wizard of Oz.” The next piece was “Someone to Watch Over Me” by George and Ira Gershwin because, as the emcee stated, what Broadway-themed concert would be complete without the Gershwins? This song featured the vocal talents of soloist Janelle Dunford, a recent graduate of Athens High School, who will soon be joining the Air National Guard. The penultimate piece was “Selections from Grease” featuring renditions of "Summer Lovin,’” “Grease Lightning,” “Beauty School Drop Out,” “Hand Jive,” and “We’ll Be Together.” The concert concluded with the traditional “God Bless America” in which the audience was invited to stand and participate.

LAMS is comprised of volunteers, and community musicians are warmly invited to join the LAMS Community Band. Practices are Thursday evenings at Lincoln United Methodist Church. Any business interested in sponsoring the LAMS summer concert series may contact lincolnareamusicsociety@gmail.com.

This season’s LAMS Community Band summer concerts at Latham Park will continue with performances on June 8, June 22, and June 29 at 7 p.m. There will be no concert on Father’s Day, June 15.

Video - Lincoln Area Music Society Community Band performs "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"

[Stephanie Hall]

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