Staff report

The Greater Huntington Symphonic Band and Jazz Band will return to Ironton for its annual night of patriotic music at 6:30 p.m. on July 2 as part of the Farmers Market Tuesday Night Summer Concert Series.
The free concert is sponsored by the Ironton Council for the Arts, Ironton Alive, and other local businesses and non-profit organizations.
The jazz band, directed by Tom Chaffin, will open the concert with “The Star-Spangled Banner.” This will be followed by “God Bless America,” “America the Beautiful,” “God Bless the USA,” “When Johnny Comes Struttin’ Home,” “Blues in the Night,” “Orange Sherbert,” and “Theme from ‘Shaft.’”
The symphonic band, directed by Matt Chaffins, will perform selections including “An American Fanfare,” “The Invincible Eagle,” “Arlington,” “Captain America March,” “Salute to the Armed Forces,” “Always United, Forever Strong,” “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “This is My Country” and “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”
The symphonic band consists of approximately 50 members, performing on various wind, brass and percussion instruments, and they perform standard concert band arrangements representing multiple styles and genres.
The jazz band has approximately 20 members, all of whom are members of the symphonic band, and performs standard jazz, big band and jazz rock arrangements.
Both groups typically perform four concerts per year throughout the Tri-State, including a spring concert, the annual July patriotic concert in Ironton, a fall concert and a Christmas concert.
The Greater Huntington Symphonic Band has existed for decades under several different names and conductors, but came together in its present form in 1964. The ensemble draws its membership from the greater Tri-State area and is a nonprofit organization funded solely by donations to purchase music.
There is no audition requirement. Membership is open to anyone who has basic music reading and musicianship skills and loves to play band music.
Current members range in age from teens to octogenarians and represent all walks of life including students, retirees and working professionals.
Rehearsals are Thursday nights from 7-8 p.m. in the Vinson Middle School band room in Westmoreland, with the jazz band rehearsing from 8-9 p.m.