Cookeville Community Band Returns To CPAC With Holiday Concert

The Cookeville Community Band is prepping to play their annual Holiday Concert this Sunday, November 28th at Cookeville Performing Arts Center.

Music Director Carroll Gotcher said that they hope to get people in the holiday spirit with a mix of holidays classics and classical music.

“All of the holiday favorites,” Gotcher said. “We have ‘Sleigh Ride’, and all the Christmas carols that you know and love. And this year we’re also playing ‘Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring’ which is a classic Bach piece. We’re playing Percy Grainger, we’ll play some Alfred Reed, so some classic and composers in addition to more popular, Christmas carol-type song.”

Gotcher said that the concert is a good way to spread some holiday cheer in the community, especially after the last year and a half. He said that he thinks there are several factors that keep audience members returning to the annual concert.

“First of all it’s band and everyone loves the band. It’s the community because we have high school kids, and we have retired persons, we have one guy who is 85. And there aren’t many places in our community where everybody can get together and share their talents in the community band.”

Gotcher said that as the music director of the band, he’s most looking forward to getting together both with the band and the community.

“My wife places in the band, some of my former teachers play in the band, a lot of my former students. Just the community we build as musicians and present that to our greater community through our music.”

Gotcher said that the 3 p.m. concert is free to the public, with no registration needed.