Editor’s note: This article was submitted by Sue Nelson Sargent, a Fredericksburg resident who has her finger on the pulse of the community and has previously contributed to Potomac Local News.
The Fredericksburg community was treated to a free evening of live music at downtown’s Hurkamp Park on Thursday when the Fredericksburg Concert Band presented “Dear John” – a breakup letter featuring movie music from composers other than John Williams.
Director Christopher Fens, longtime music educator and band director in Chesterfield County Public Schools, opened the FCB Songs at Sunset series with the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s “Captain America March: The First Avenger” (2011) by composer Alan Silvestri.
Without missing a beat, “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” (1991) by composer Michael Kamen followed. Conductor Fens posed the question to the audience: “What is the name of the cameo star at the end of Robin Hood?” Answer at the end.
Jen Kabza, FCB president and flutist, received a special birthday present from the band, which dedicated to her the cheerful tone of the incredibly goofy “Baby Elephant Walk” from Hatari! (1962) by composer Henry Mancini.
Associate Conductor Corey Koch, the only band director at Massaponax High School for 27 years until his retirement in 2025, introduced Pixar and Disney magic with themes from The Incredibles (2004), Up (2009), and Ratatouille (2007) by composer Michael Giacchino. The tiny tots present in the audience of 187 broke into their wild, joyful energy upon recognizing the first measures of Toy Story (1995) by composer Randy Newman.
The band then launched into Leonard Bernstein’s “The Dance at the Gym: Mambo” (1961).
More “Dear John” composers followed, including Guardians of the Galaxy (Tyler Bates, 2014), with an audience sing-along of the “ooga-chaka” chant led by band members – 48 of the 70 FCB musicians present – and a stellar trumpet solo.
Composer Danny Elfman, who famously scored Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) and Edward Scissorhands (1990), followed with Beetlejuice (1988). Conductor Fens posed the pop quiz question of the night: “Does anyone know the name of Danny Elfman’s rock band?” Only Fredericksburg resident Conway Jett knew the answer: Oingo Boingo, a 1980s Southern California synth-rock cult band on I.R.S. Records, with classics like “Weird Science.”
Hans Zimmer’s Pirates of the Caribbean (2006–2011) gave the “Dear John” final goodbye to a delightful warm night of live music.
The Fredericksburg Concert Band will perform next in November with “Symphonic Words,” based on books. Date and venue TBD.
Photos include “Like Father, Like Son” of FCB’s Associate Conductor Corey Koch with his son, Riley Koch, a bassoonist who is entering his second year of teaching music in Spotsylvania County Public Schools.
(Cameo answer: Sean Connery as King Richard.)
