Repasz Band Concert

The Civil War theme continues with Muncy Historical Society’s upcoming concert, “Civil War Era Music,” performed by the Repasz Band at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9 in the Muncy High School Auditorium, 200 W. Penn St.

The Repasz Band has a proud musical heritage, having performed for a variety of civic and military events. In 1861, the band enlisted in the 11th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and after three months of service, enlisted in the 29th Pennsylvania Volunteers. After the band completed its second enlistment, most of the musicians joined the 8th PA Cavalry, serving until the end of the Civil War.

They saw action in the Shenandoah Valley and at Gen. Robert E. Lee’s surrender. At Appomattox Courthouse, the band played the “Star Spangled Banner” and the national anthem, which will be its opening selection at the Oct. 9 concert. Some of the other selections include “The Girl I Left Behind,” “Civil War Suite,” “Voices from the Battlefield” and music from the film “Gettysburg.”

In addition to Civil War era selections, Repasz Band will play the “Brandon Park March” as a special tribute to Preston Gowers, one of Muncy’s published composers. Gowers, the son of one of Muncy’s wealthiest merchants, conducted the Muncy Band, established a coronet band in the 1870s and also a dance orchestra that performed regularly at Muncy’s Union Opera House and other area social halls.

As an entrepreneur, he established Gowers’ Business College in 1876, which included penmanship as a course of study. The intaglio plates, used to print the “Brandon Park March” sheet music, will be on display at the concert.

More information is available online at www.MuncyHistoricalSociety.org or by calling (570) 546-5917. All activities and events are open to the public.