BETHEL – It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. The Mahoosuc Community Band has been practicing Christmas music since September. The Christmas Concert is Sunday, Dec. 3, at 4 p.m. at the West Parish Congregational Church in Bethel.

     The concert is filled with traditional favorites and newer melodies. The audience may join in singing the Hallelujah Chorus by Handel and arranged by Jack Bullock. “Auld Lang Syne” arranged by Chip Davis will bring back memories of New Years’ celebrations. “O Magnum Mysterium” is a peaceful melody by Morten Lauridsen, Christmas from the ’50s arranged by Douglas Wagner features the trumpet section and includes “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “The Christmas Waltz,” and “There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays.” “Flourish for Wind Band” by R. Vaughn Williams features the lower brass. And the “Hanukkah Festival” arranged by Chris Bernotas includes traditional Jewish songs of Sevivon, Maoz Tzur and Hanukkah.

Traditional favorites include “Christmas Day” by Gustav Holst, “Cowboy Christmas” arranged by Jeff Simmons, “A Christmas Portrait” (including “It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas,” “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire,” and “We Need a Little Christmas”) arranged by Jerry Nowak, and naturally “Sleigh Ride.”

Patricia Boyle-Wight directs the community band with people of all ages from the towns of Berlin, N.H., Dixfield, Rumford, Hanover, Woodstock, Greenwood and Bethel.

For more information contact Julie Schubert-Cowan, band president, at jdschubes@gmail.com.

Drummers are practicing for “Cowboy Christmas,”  one of the songs for the upcoming Mahoosuc Community Band Christmas Concert at 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 3, at the West Parish Congregational Church in Bethel. From left, Jean Bass, Doug Webster, Jan Whitworth, Ben Alford, and  Jim Chandler (seated at the drumset).