The Allentown Band’s annual August performance at Waldheim Park, Salisbury Township, is a concert not to be missed.

The Allentown Band performs at many venues, including church sanctuaries around the Lehigh Valley; Miller Symphony Hall, Allentown, and, of course, its “home base,” West Park, Allentown.

Waldheim Park has the ambiance of its big wood amphitheatee, baked goods and ice cream for sale before and after the concert, and crickets, cicadas and other critters providing their own music of the night.

The theme for the Aug. 12, 2025, concert, which from what I’ve been able to determine, was the 108th non-consecutive appearance by the Allentown Band, was “Opera and Broadway Favorites,” with guest soloists Daniel Rodriguez, tenor, and Grace Lerew, soprano, under the direction of Ronald Demkee, Allentown Band conductor.

An additional concert of the program, Aug. 14, Christ Lutheran Church, Allentown, included the Lehigh Valley men’s chorus Summer Harmony under the direction of Andrew Lutz-Long.

The stirring opener for the Waldheim Park concert was Richard Wagner’s “Prelude to Act III” from “Lohengrin.”

Next was a martial version of Georges Bizet’s “Toreador’s Song” from “Carmen.”

Grace Lerew performed “Song to the Moon” from Antonin Dvorak’s “Rusalka” with an effortless grace and startling clarity.

“Now that’s a rising star,” said Demkee.

“She is absolutely an amazing talent,” said Daniel Rodriguez.

“I recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of my 50th birthday,” quipped Rodriguez, who uplifted the United States’ spirits with his rendition of “God Bless America” after the 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attack.

“She is a rising star,” Rodriguez continued, referring to Lerew.

“I am more your shooting star,” joked Rodriguez.

Rodriguez need make no apologies. He sang Puccini’s “E lucevan le stelle” from “Tosca” and Giuseppe Verdi’s “La donna e mobile” from “Rigoletto” with a style vigorous, expressive and dramatic.

Rodriguez sang two Broadway show tunes to open the concert’s second half: “Into the Fire” from “The Scarlet Pimpernel” and “Anthem” from “Chess.” Rodriguez has a sublime gift, perhaps comparable only to that of the great Mario Lanza.

The well-paced and varied program included Lerew singing a romantic interpretation of “A Little Bit in Love” from Leonard Bernstein’s “Wonderful Town.”

Rodriguez concluded the regular portion of the program with Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma” from “Turandot.” Rodriguez has a powerful and sensitive voice that can make grown men and women weep.

The concert included Allentown Band’s traditional closer, John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

The concert included a hymn sing of “Crown Him With Many Crowns,” “In Christ Alone” and “God Be With You Till We Meet Again.”

The concert was presented by the Evangelical Congregational Waldheim Park Association.

Waldheim Park information: https://www.waldheimpark.org/