The student news site of El Camino College

El Camino College The Union

The student news site of El Camino College

El Camino College The Union

The student news site of El Camino College

El Camino College The Union

    Americus Brass Band wows the crowd

    Americus+Brass+band+performer+Richard+Birkemmeier+taking+a+bow+after+performing+Home+Sweet+Home+on+Sunday%2C+Oct.+9+in+the+Marsee+Auditorium.+Photo+credit%3A+Elijah+Hicks
    Americus Brass band performer Richard Birkemmeier taking a bow after performing “Home Sweet Home” on Sunday, Oct. 9 in the Marsee Auditorium. Photo credit: Elijah Hicks

    Like a blast from the past, the room is filled with audiences of all ages, the lights are dimmed and up on stage the magic begins. The Americus Brass Band performed their setlist of music that took the audience back to the time of America’s founding fathers, where it all began, on Sunday, Oct. 9 in the Marsee Auditorium.

    The music was played all by brass instruments that included: trumpets, trombones, clarinets, cornets, horns, drums and a piano. The performance featured a variety of music from the 1800s all the way up to the 20th century.

    Lizbeth Padilla, 27, who works in finances, said, “I attended the performance because I listen to a lot of classical and instrumental music.”

    The performance was a salute to all the veterans and current armed forces. As a tribute and remembrance of their service, the Americus Brass Band honored them with the tunes that are sure to bring back memories for everyone.

    “I loved it, it was beautiful, I have never seen anything as pretty as that,” June Robertson, 83, whose husband was in the Air Force, said.

    The performance included jazz, hymns, swings, blues and marching tunes. The inspired melodies are all generated from those who gave all to their countries. From the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the first African-Americans who composed the first jazz band, these are the songs that inspired all men and woman to continue on.

    Ed Engelhaupt, 71, retired software engineer, said he had seen Americus Brass Band performance many years ago, and the performance of “The Civil War” was a very moving experience, which brought him to return to see the band again.

    It’s not only the way the band plays its instruments or sing the music, it also has to do with the history behind it all. With immense sentiment, Peggy Duquesnel nararrates the entire history behind the songs played and really makes you feel as if you were back in that era.

    “I was dancing with my feet, then when they played the Glenn Miller (Moonlight Serenade), I was wishing I was jitterbugging,” Duquesnel said. “(It) is the best day I have had in, I don’t know how long.”

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