Randolph-Macon Academy Band and Chorus to Perform Free Patriotic Concert

Front Royal, VA— The Randolph-Macon Academy (R-MA) Band and Chorus will perform a free patriotic concert, “A Salute to Freedom,” in Harrisonburg at Asbury United Methodist Church on Wednesday May 23, 2012 at 7:30pm.  

This concert comes towards the end of the R-MA Band and Chorus spring tour. In New York City, on March 17, the band marched with over 150,000 participants and in front of an estimated audience of over two million spectators in the nation's oldest and largest Saint Patrick's Day Parade. The following week, during the first week of spring break, the band and chorus performed two outstanding concerts in Florida at Walt Disney World's EPCOT and at Sea World. On April 14th, the band and chorus were the opening act for the National Rifle Association’s “Celebration of American Values Freedom Experience” in Saint Louis, MO. This was the third consecutive year the band and chorus were invited to perform for this prestigious event, and they received two standing ovations from an audience of over 9500 people. The performance at Asbury UMC will be the same program presented to the “Freedom Experience” audience.

The R-MA band and chorus returned home to perform for family, friends, and those in their local community last weekend during R-MA’s annual Spring Family Weekend Concert. The band will again march in the Winchester Apple Blossom Firefighters’ Parade and Grand Feature Parade on May 4th and 5th. The concert at Asbury UMC will be the band and chorus’ final joint performance of the year, although both will perform again during R-MA’s end-of-year activities.

The band is conducted by Mr. Ed Richards, who not only has 34 years of experience as the R-MA bandmaster, but is also the conductor for the American Legion Community Band based in Front Royal, VA. The chorus is directed by New York native Mr. Michael DeMato, who joined the R-MA staff in 2010.

Randolph-Macon Academy (R-MA), founded in 1892, is a college-preparatory, coeducational day and boarding school for students in grades 6 through 12.  Students in grades 9-12 participate in R-MA’s 91st Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) and have the option to participate in a unique flight program. R-MA is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is located in Front Royal, VA.

 ###