What’s Free and Brings Great Joy? Dexter Community Band’s Annual Holiday Concert

Event will feature singers Kristin Hoffman-Peavler, Danielle Augsburger, John McLaughlin and Frank Doherty

By Todd Nissen

Do you hear what I hear? There’s a Polar Express on the way, and the Dexter Community Band’s annual holiday concert is just the place to catch it.

The band, now in its 44^th season, will be celebrating the season with traditional favorites, popular standards, Broadway and the movies.

Director William W. Gourley and the band will be joined by soprano Kristin Hoffman-Peavler, alto Danielle Augsburger, tenor John McLaughlin and bass Frank Doherty performing Christmas on Broadway, Do You Hear What I Hear, and It’s the Holiday Season, a livelymedley of holiday favorites.

The quartet are members of Vocal Arts Ensemble of Ann Arbor.

The program also includes a suite from the popular children’s movie The Polar Express, in which arranger Jerry Brubaker has deftly woven together Believe, The Polar Express, When Christmas Comes to Town and Spirit of the Season into a brass section favorite.

The band will also play Three Moods of Hanukkah arranged by Lennie Niehaus, and Jingle Bells Fantasy in which arranger John Wasson takes James Pierpont’s classic tune for a rollicking ride.

As it does every year, the DCB concert will include the Christmas Sing-A-Long, where everyone is encouraged to sing, regardless of what the person sitting next to you thinks.

The free fun gets going at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, at Dexter High School’s Center for Performing Arts, 2200 North Parker Road.

Audience members are invited to stay for a reception with holiday treats and refreshments after the concert.

The Dexter Community Band plays a total of four concerts during its 2025-26 season. The next concerts are:

• European Tour, March 1, 2026 (Dexter High School)
• USA 250, May 17, 2026 (Dexter High School)

For additional information about the band or how to provide financial support, visit http://www.dextercommunityband.org/.