The North Cascades Concert Band will present a salute to the music of John Philip Sousa on Friday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Byrnes Performing Arts Center in Arlington.

The community band, made up of more than 60 musicians mostly from Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties, was formed in 1993 and is currently led by director Lylburn Layer of Port Townsend and assistant director Rob Patterman of Arlington.

The spring concert is the band's annual salute to the American musical icon John Philip Sousa. Due to the efforts of this great American musical pioneer, American music won international acclaim for the first time in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The unprecedented popularity of the Sousa Band came at a time when few American orchestras existed. From the Civil War until about 1920, bands, not orchestras, were the most important aspect of concert life. No finer band than Sousa's had ever been heard.

In this performance, sponsored by the Arlington Lions Club, NCCB musicians will recreate the style and spirit of one of Sousa's exciting concerts, including music for all tastes by traditional and contemporary composers, outstanding soloists, a very fast pace and lots of encores.

Tickets are available at Flowers by George, or online at byrnesperformingarts.org. Advance purchase tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students; at the door, adult admission is $12.

Caption: Photo by Eric Johnson