On Sunday, June 13 at 3:30pm and 5pm, Maplewood Community Music will present a free spring concert at the Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts in Maplewood.  

The community band will kick off the afternoon, playing "music from five centuries," a phrase coined by its conductor Tom McGee,  a Maplewood resident and trumpet player. The program includes music by Shostakovich, Lauridson, Vaughan Williams, Bizet, and Warlock. Featured will be the world premiere of "Birkhat" by Bruce McKinney. McKinney, a Cranford-based musician/composer and member of MCM, created this work especially for the band.

At 5pm, the audience is invited to join in an old-fashioned swing dance, complete with dance instruction, featuring Maplewood's 20-piece swing band Swing Town. The big band will play classics like In the Mood, Take the A Train, and more while couples and families can learn to swing dance. Beginner dance instruction, provided by Simone of Swinging With Simone of Montclair, will be held 5-5:30pm; the music will continue for dancing and for listening pleasure until about 7pm.

The concert and swing dance are free (donations appreciated); light dinner, snacks, and desserts will be provided.