Capital City band concert Sunday will feature harpist

The Capital City Community Band, in its 35th season providing free concerts, welcomes the holiday season and music lovers by performing at the Carson City Community Center on Sunday.

Featured will be harpist Mary Law, who is set to perform "Ol' Man River" and John Philip Sousa's "Invincible Eagle March" with the band during the event. It begins at 3 p.m.

Law, a native North Dakotan who has taught music in the Carson City School District for 22 years, fills the bill for the guest artist role in the view of the band's director and founder.

"There are so many talented individuals in Carson City we always try to feature someone once or twice a concert season, and Mary definitely fits the bill," said director Richard Doede.

"Not many pieces for band have harp parts, so we are delighted to feature Mary in these two works," he said. "She is very talented as a musician and teacher, and it's been a pleasure to work with her."

Other pieces in the concert should delight the audience, according to Doede.

"The band plays what the audience asks to hear," he said.

Law won't be the only musician featured this year. Some of the band's own members will take the spotlight, though not with their usual instruments.

Sandra Irvin, Pat Thunder, Doug Thunder and John Ruby will set their instruments aside and sing "Christmas on Broadway," a medley of holiday favorites, as the band accompanies them.

Also planned are an assortment of other pieces, among them "Finlandia" and "America the Beautiful."

Sousa's "Invincible Eagle March" won't be the only piece on the bill by the favorite composer of many bands. Carson City's band also will play the "Sousa Scramble," a medley of Sousa marches.

"We will perform a variety of music consisting of holiday, patriot and just plain old band music," said the director.