The Midcoast Community Band will offer its second winter concert, Tidings of Joy: Part 2, on Friday evening, Dec. 19, 2025, at the Thomaston Baptist Church, 212 Main Street. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. under the direction of Jo Anne Parker, who is wrapping up her 38th year fronting the band. Members of the band are from all over the midcoast area, and the band is made up of members young and old, from ages 15 to 84: "a true community band," said Margot Bridgett, in a news release.   

The program will feature Christmas music: a blend of familiar and not so familiar tunes, including the popular audience sing-along of favorite carols. Parker’s voice student, Ashley Corbett of Cushing, a senior at Oceanside High School, will sing Grown-Up Christmas List, accompanied by the band, and will also lead the singalong.

Other pieces on the program will be My Dancing Day (a traditional English carol), Divinum Mysterium, a beautiful setting by James Swearingen of the Advent hymn Of the Father’s Love Begotten, A Canadian Brass Christmas Suite, Christmas Through the Ages (a blend of classical music with Christmas songs), On This Day Earth Shall Ring by Gustav Holst, along with the Leroy Anderson favorites Sleigh Ride and A Christmas Festival.

On a lighter note, the program will include Santa Baby and Feliz Navidad (with lots of fun percussion).

Next year, the band will be celebrating its 40th year of music making, with lots of special events in the works already, according to the band.  

Admission to Friday’s concert is free, but donations for the band will be appreciated.

For further information, please contact Jo Anne Parker at knitmusic@roadrunner.com.