Kaintuck Band
SUMMER JAMS M I D D L E T O W N C O N C E R T S E R I E S T O F E AT U R E A WIDE RANGE OF MUSICAL ARTISTS Writer / Julie Engelhardt
“It’s really important to the mayor and our commissioners to put a variety of music out there, to foster a sense of community within our city,” McQuaide explains. “This gives people a reason to come out and relax and talk to each other, and enjoy the surroundings. It’s really a nice event.”
For many years, the City of Middletown leaders have done their part to reach out to citizens as well as those from neighboring towns by hosting a number of fun events, such as the Family Fun Festival and Craft Show, Light Up Middletown, and the Summer Concert Series, which is traditionally The award-winning Eastern High School held at Wetherby Park by City Hall. band has been a part of this community tradition for years, and its director, Mike The concert series was originally slated Arthur, is thrilled to have his students to begin on May 17, starting off with invited back again. three Middletown schools including the Eastern High School band, the Hite “We’re excited to start off the series with Elementary Jam Band and Middletown our annual pops concert,” he says. “We will Elementary School choir. Eight music perform a variety of literature from classical groups are scheduled to perform on five standards to pop tunes you can sing along separate Sundays, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 with. We look forward to performing for the p.m. Currently, city leaders are not certain community.” if any of the bands will play due to the coronavirus outbreak - but keep reading The event will mark the first time the for some info about the bands scheduled Jam Band, directed by Jeffrey Payton, has to perform. performed in the series. Deanne McQuaide, administrative assistant for the City of Middletown, works with Mayor Byron Chapman, a city commissioner and the city clerk, to search for bands and determine which ones will participate in the yearly series.
“We are looking forward to showcasing the students’ hard work,” Payton says. Members of the band are required to audition for a spot in the ensemble. According to Payton, who will play bass 26 / MIDDLETOWN MAGAZINE / MAY 2020 / atMiddletown.com
with his group, there are ten vocalists, two percussionists, two keyboardists, a guitarist and one ukulele player. The Jam Band was founded by Jecorey Arthur, and it has been in existence for three years. The Middletown Elementary School choir, led by director Michele Skirvin, consists of fifty-one students in the fourth and fifth grades. The choir performs at two school concerts in December and April, and appears around Louisville at nursing homes, at the Light Up Middletown celebration during the holiday season, and at the summer series at Wetherby Park. According to Skirvin, the choir’s selections for the spring include pieces that center around loving yourself and others. “We enjoy singing at Wetherby Park because it’s a great way to connect with the Middletown community,” Skirvin says. “It’s also a great venue for displaying our students’ talent.” The June 14 concert is scheduled to feature the The Wulfe Bros., a fan favorite in the area. The group is one of the longestrunning bands in Kentuckiana. It consists of leader Paul Cunningham on bass, guitar and vocals, Rodney Wurtele on keyboards and vocals, and Jeffrey Jarboe on drums
