Greetings and welcome to the 64th concert season of the Tri-County Symphonic Band. From a poignantly powerful opening concert to a Flag Day spectacular under the tent, this season invites everyone to share in the excitement generated by the very best symphonic band music ever written.
Sunday, October 19, 2025, 3:00 PM: Our opening concert, “Power and Glory,” is a collection of dynamic pieces that help tell some of the most venerable stories of all time. From the sheer strength of Samson to the tumbling walls of Jericho, the compositions are all very programmatic and display the symphonic band at its fullest, spirited and most energetic, while also showing the gentle side of the flexibility of wind and percussion orchestration.
Sunday, December 14, 2025, 1:30 PM: The Annual Children’s Christmas Concert will
take place at Sippican School in Marion as we are very much looking forward to
continuing the long-established tradition. A special treat is a performance by the
Sippican School Concert Choir! This concert celebrates the holiday season and is free
admission for all – our gift to the community.
Sunday, February 15, 2026, 3:00 PM: The February concert this season is a tribute to
the British composer Gustav Holst, one of the founding fathers of symphonic band
repertoire. Subtitled “A Suite Celebration”, the program features Holst’s “First Suite”,
“Second Suite” and “Moorside Suite.” Robert W. Smith’s “Holst Winter Suite” is included
as well as Gustav Holst’s “Hammersmith: Prelude and Scherzo.” This “deep dive” into
the music of Holst is an experience not to be missed.
Sunday, March 22, 2026, 3:00 PM: Broadway will be the focus of our March offering.
The program we call “Celebrating American Musical Theater” will highlight some of the
most important Broadway composers with symphonic band arrangements from
musicals that represent the genre over the years. Vocalist Heather Corrigan will bring
her talents to the stage as she performs more contemporary selections from composers
who are still producing for the Great White Way.
Sunday, June 14, 2026, 2:00 PM: Once again we will be under the Grand Tent at Tabor
Academy for our Annual Pops Concert to benefit the John R. Pandolfi Music
Scholarship Fund. This year’s concert will be all about the 250 years of American
Independence. This Flag Day celebration will feature such patriotic works as “The
Liberty Fanfare” (John Williams), “American Civil War Fantasy” (arr. Jerry Bilik), “A
Jefferson Portrait” (Elliot Del Borgo), “Variations on America” (Charles Ives), “Armed
Forces Salute” (arr. Bob Lowden), “America the Beautiful” (arr. Carmen Dragon) and, of
course, “The Stars and Stripes Forever” (John Philip Sousa). We hope to inspire the
patriot in us all as we salute the flag to some of the finest music ever written for our
great nation.
The 2025-2026 concert season, our sixty-fourth, is testament to our commitment to
bring quality live music to the community. We are excited that you will be part of this
tradition. Help us to share the “Tri-County experience” that has thrilled audiences for
over 63 years.
Sincerely,
Philip E. Sanborn
Music Director
Philip Sanborn
Philip Sanborn is in his twentieth season as Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Tri-County Symphonic Band. Mr. Sanborn resides in Marion, MA with his wife Karen (baritone saxophonist in the Tri-County Symphonic Band). He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor where he studied with Abe Torchinsky.
Mr. Sanborn is in his third season as Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Bay
Colony Brass. The Bay Colony Brass is a large brass ensemble based in Newton, MA, comprised of some of the finest brass instrumentalists in the greater Boston area.
As a trombonist and euphonium player, Mr. Sanborn has performed with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, Ocean State Lyric Opera Orchestra, Rhode Island Civic Chorale Orchestra, The Bass-Wingate’s Band (British Brass Band), Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra, Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra, New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, Tri-County Symphonic Band, Marion Concert Band, Our Lady of Light Band, and the American Band of Providence, R.I.
As a jazz trombonist, Mr. Sanborn has performed both locally and internationally including the Montreux (Switzerland) Jazz Festival. Mr. Sanborn has appeared with Cab Calloway, Julius La Rosa, Bobby Vinson, Duke Bellaire Big Band (Bovi’s, East Providence, RI), John Allmark, Tony Giorgianni’s Jazz Odyssey, White Heat Swing Orchestra, Ken Hadley Big Band, SouthCoast Jazz Orchestra, Night Life Orchestra, Mike and Joe’s Big Band, Mahrud, Jorge Ferreira, International Portuguese Music Awards, and many others.