<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620767739463.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Three Hays City Band performances set for June" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=32c2n-1033e9d-pb&from=pb6admin&download=1&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3&btn-skin=3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>By JAMES BELL Hays PostAfter a year with little to no live music due to COVID-19, the
Hays City Band will return this summer, giving audiences and performers a chance
to regain a part of what has been missing over the last year with three performances
in Hays and Ellis.“We are getting the band back together,” said Hays City Band
director and assistant professor of music at Fort Hays State University
Peter Lillpopp.In recent weeks, he said, Fort Hays State University bands
have performed outdoors after slowly transitioning to in-person rehearsals. But
with the summer band, those students, along with members of the community, will
have the opportunity to perform three times in June.“It’s been interesting to work with (students) because they
were excited to be with us at every step,” Lillpopp said. “They were just excited
to get out of the house, get out of the online class and do whatever they could.”Like the FHSU bands that have been able to perform this
month, the City Band performances will be outdoors, the safest way he said to
see live music while COVID-19 remains a concern.The group will also practice in the Beach-Schmidt
Performing Arts Center, located in Sheridan Hall on the FHSU
campus, a large space that will allow performers to distance.The first practice will coordinate with the lifting of
COVID-19 precautions at the university.But while the band will allow FHSU students a chance to
perform, the city band is open to everyone.“Anyone can come and participate,”
Lillpopp said. “We recommend that they are high school age and older, but we
have had some advanced Eighth graders play with our band, just so that they can
handle the music. There is a lot of music in a short amount of time.“It’s really a combined effort,” he said. “We have a lot of
high school students that do the band, there is a lot of college kids that
are still around during the summer that do the band. The college faculty does
the band in addition to the community. Many of them are former band members themselves
and they just want to keep their instrument going and keep playing.”Anyone with an interest, even those that may not have
performed for some time, is invited to participate.Instruments can also be provided, if needed.“It’s a very supportive atmosphere,” Lillpopp said. “If you haven’t
played your clarinet or trumpet in a while, you can come in and sit third chair
and take the easy parts. And that’s OK. We have the faculty that are there to
cover the solos and everything.”The more difficult parts, including solos, will be taken on
by performers with a higher level of ability, which he said makes the summer
band experience more enjoyable.“Another feature of our band is the soloists,” he said. “We
have students that are at the university, faculty members will solo with the
band. So it’s just a great experience to get to hear that and experience that.”He said they also try to work with schedules so those that
can only make it to a limited number of sessions are also welcome.“We are very flexible with the schedule, too,” he said. “If
people can only make one rehearsal and one performance, that’s great.”The music will be a mix of traditional city band tunes and marches,
jazz, movie music and more, and are free to attend.Practices will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. beginning June 1,
and every following Monday through the month. 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Performances
are set for June 15 at the Hays Downtown Pavilion at 10th and Main,
June 22 at Washington Grade School, 100 E 13th in Ellis on June 22
and again at the Hays Pavilion on June 29. All three performances
will begin at 7:30 p.m.“We want to give the audience the quintessential Norman
Rockwell summer band concert,” he said.Interested members can show up for the first session, but those
with a desire to participate are encouraged to contact Lillpopp at (785) 628-5353
or at <a href="mailto:p_lillpopp@fhsu.edu">p_lillpopp@fhsu.edu</a> prior to the
first rehearsal.

Music set to fill the air this summer with the Hays City Band