A new music group connects the Fresno Pacific University campus and the surrounding community.
The FPU Community Concert Band is open to area musicians at a variety of levels as well as university students, faculty and staff. The amateur ensemble will perform symphonic wind band music in many styles.
Rehearsals begin August 27 and will be from 7-9 p.m. in room 103 of the Marpeck building on the campus. For more information call Wayne Huber, music faculty, at 559-453-2267.
Patricia DeBenedetto will direct the band. She earned a master of music degree from the University of Minnesota and is working on a doctorate in music education. DeBenedetto has conducted the symphonic wind ensembles at St. Cloud State University, University of the Pacific, University of Wisconsin, River Falls and California State University, Stanislaus, as well as several community bands. She also taught public school for 10 years locally and was director of bands at Roosevelt High School of the Arts.