On Sunday September 27th 2015, the audience at the Performing Arts Center took a trip back to the 1930s and 1940s with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.  The orchestra, under the direction of Nick Hilscher, filled the air with toe-tapping songs that made everyone want to get up on their feet and dance.  As the musicians took the stage, they opened with “Moonlight Serenade”.  The band played with a magnificent vibrato that made the audience feel like they were standing on the beach staring out at the moon as the moonlight reflects off the ocean.  The orchestra then played a variety of other songs.  One of these songs was “I Get a Kick Out of You”, where they audience learned that Mr. Hilscher was not only a director, but also a wonderful sounding singer.  Following that, the orchestra played songs like “Sunrise Serenade”, “In the Mood”, “Tuxedo Junction”, and “Pennsylvania 6-5000”.

Then Mr. Hilscher introduced Natalie Angst, the lead female vocalist who would go on to sing “That’s Sabotage”.  Mr. Hilsher then described to the audience that Ms. Angst, two members of the band named Ian O’Beirne, Donald Staudt III, and Kevin Sheehan, as well as himself were members of the vocal group, “The Moonlight Serenaders”.  Each of the five members of the group came up to the front of the stage and sang “Chattanooga Choo-Choo”, which seemed to be a favorite audience-wide.  Following this song, there was a brief intermission where the orchestra members sold shirts, and CD’s of the music to audience members as well as have a meet and greet session.

Upon returning from intermission, Mr. Hilscher explained to the audience how the Glenn Miller Orchestra has been around since 1938 and has played all over the world in countries like the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, England, Italy, Germany, France, as well as South and Central America.  The first song played after intermission was dedicated to the veterans in the room, which was “American Patrol”.  The orchestra then played another hour’s worth a wonderful tunes, ending with “St. Louis Blues March”, and as the audience was leaving, played “Moonlight Serenade” again as a farewell song for the audience.  The Glenn Miller Orchestra Concert at the Performing Arts Center was an amazing experience for all who attended, and even after the show, many of the audience members continued to hum the music to themselves contently.