This year’s Bethlehem Municipal Band Christmas concert is one of sadness and celebration.

Having served as the Bethlehem Municipal Band Conductor for 36 years, Don Kemmerer is retiring his baton.

The Bethlehem Municipal Band presents its “Christmas Concert” at 7 p.m. Dec. 17, Northeast Middle School, Bethlehem.

“Don has dedicated a large part of his life to this band,” says Holly Ehrenfried, Bethlehem Municipal Band President.

“He worked exceptionally hard to develop a band that would be enjoyable for the musicians and could put on a top-quality performance,” Ehrenfried says.

For the Christmas concert, Kemmerer shares the podium with Bethlehem Municipal Band Assistant Conductor Bill Nazzaro and Bethlehem Municipal Band Conductor-Elect David Crosby.

Kemmerer opens the concert with a vibrant 16th century work, “Gaudete,” followed by “Russian Christmas Music,” a masterpiece which conveys the sounds of Eastern Orthodox liturgical music and Kemmerer’s arrangement of “Mary Did You Know.”

Nazzaro conducts “Overture on Miracle on 34th Street,” “Midnight in Bethlehem,” “Grown-up Christmas List,” “Jingle Bell Jazz,” “Christmas from the 50s,” “Yuletide Tapestry” and “Emmanuel Variants.”

Additional selections include “Minor Alterations No. 2,” “Let It Snow” and “Christmas Pops Sing-Along,” conducted by Kemmerer.

Crosby closes the concert with Leroy Anderson’s popular “Sleigh Ride.”

Soloists include vocalists Frank Gregory, Amelia Gamble and Chelsea Reed; Ken Gross, trumpet, and Keith Troxell, alto saxophone.

Says Ehrenfried, “Don will be missed on the podium. Because of his dedication and hard work, his presence will be felt for many years with each note this band plays.”

Bethlehem native Kemmerer has been a member of the Bethlehem Municipal Band for more than 40 years, serving as conductor since 1989.

He is a member of the American Federation of Musicians and Past President of the Pennsylvania Bandmasters Association.

He is a graduate of West Chester University with majors in trumpet and French horn.

Nazzaro, a tuba player, has been a member of the Bethlehem Municipal Band since 2021. He received an undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas and masters degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music and DePaul University.

Crosby received a degree in music education from Montclair State University, where he studied instrumental and vocal music.

The Bethlehem Municipal Band was founded in 1935. Four conductors have led the organization during its 75-year history: founding member Joseph Ricapito, 1935-1965; Ray Huston, 1965-1968; Bernard Beitel, 1968-1989, and Kemmerer, 1989-2025.

Bethlehem Municipal Band, “Christmas Concert,” 7 p.m. Dec. 17, Northeast Middle School, 1170 Fernwood St., Bethlehem; Tickets: https://www.cityband.org/

“Classical View” is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com