VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – It is time to start the music for the third season of the Valley City Community Band under the direction of Rochelle Jimenez. Dust off that instrument and come and play! Rehearsals start on Thursday, September 12 at 6:30 PM in the state-of-the-art Band Rehearsal Hall at Valley City State University.

Jimenez stated, “as music is a lifelong pursuit, her goal is to create a fun and welcoming environment where everyone can pursue and develop or redevelop, their musical skills.”

The Valley City Community Band performs several concerts a year at Valley City State University, Eagles club for Memorial Day and in the Rally in the Valley Parade. Jimenez selects a wide variety of music, from the marches and overtures that are staples of band repertoire to arrangements of popular songs and film soundtracks. “It’s important to me that the Community Band plays music that’s accessible to everyone, Jimenez stated, Popular music has been integral to band repertoire for decades, and I want to respect that tradition. At the same time, there is a wealth of music written specifically for band, and I want our community to experience the same joy that I do when I get to play classics from the band repertoire.”

Participation is open to community members of any age. Interested parties can contact Jimenez via e-mail at valleycitycommunityband@gmail.com or Lauren Seaman (administrator for Bridges Arts Council and the Community School for the Arts) at administrator@bridgesarts.org.

The community band is run through the VCSU Community School for the Arts. The cost for the semester is $35 (full year $70). Tuition can be paid on the Bridges Arts Council website (bridgesarts.org/pay.php) with a credit card or during rehearsal by credit card, check or cash. You are asked to fill out a registration form available at rehearsal. Late enrollments are accepted. If the registration fee is an issue please contact, Lauren Seaman for scholarships.

The Community School for the Arts is being administered by the Bridges Arts Council through an agreement with VCSU.