Community Bands of Westmoreland County brings ‘familiar’ music for all ages to community college

The Community Bands of Westmoreland County has performed in Washington, D.C., Gettysburg, Lancaster County and at the Flight 93 Memorial, but their at-home shows have been limited.

This weekend, the group will bring its set of classic rock, marches, show tunes and patriotic selections back home for a performance at Westmoreland County Community College.

The group consists of bands from Delmont, Jeannette, Penn-Trafford, Scottdale and the Alle-Kiski Valley.

Combined, the group consists of about 250 members, said Ron Rometo, Penn-Trafford Community Band manager.

The concert will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Science Hall theater on the Youngwood campus. Admission is free.

“This is a concert put on for those around here to listen to us,” Rometo said. “They don’t get a chance to listen to us because our venues are 200 miles away.”

The group is a “top-notch band,” Rometo said. He suspects the music draws listeners to their shows.

“I like to think that these are songs that are familiar and recognized by people of all ages,” Rometo said. “We’re playing the music people like, and when you play music people like, they get a big joy out of that.”

Rometo hopes the central location of the college and its proximity to students will boost attendance this weekend.

Being a Westmoreland-based band, the group is excited to perform in the county, said Jay Copenhaver, Scottdale Concert Band president.

“Always, our mission is to provide enjoyable music for the public,” Copenhaver said. “We love going on these trips, but we realize that there is an element that is missing — and that is providing a concert for the folks back home.”

The group will meet next month to start planning their performances for 2024. They hope to make the community college concert an annual tradition, Copenhaver said.