Ramona Concert Full of Surprises

There were a few surprises during the concert in the Performing Arts Wing at Saturday night and a big surprise at the end of the concert. People leaving the high school concert hall about 9 p.m. walked into a snowfall covering their cars in the parking lot.

The most impressive surprise during the second annual was an appearance by President Abraham Lincoln. As the Ramona Town Hall Brass Band played a welcoming “Hail to the Chief,” William Peck, of San Marcos, walked onto the stage in full attire as Mr. Lincoln.

Staying in character, Peck described the president’s night before the famous Gettysburg Address was given on Nov. 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Penn. While going for a walk after dinner, the president encountered a woman searching for her son’s grave. Not recognizing Mr. Lincoln, the woman described the honor it was for her son to have defended his country’s honor.

Peck ended his presentation with a touching rendition of the Gettysburg Address. At its conclusion, he asked the bandmaster to play “Dixie” since “…it now belongs to us.”

The concert was a combined performance by the Town Hall band, under the direction of Ken Serfass, and the Royal Alliance Symphonic Band, directed by Daniel James. It was sponsored by Ramona Concert Association as a fundraiser for the two bands. The Town Hall band’s presentation was narrated by Robert Krysak, vice president of the Ramona Town Hall Board of Trustees.

Another surprise appearance was the award-winning Royal Alliance Drum Corps marching onto the stage while the bands were playing “Thunderer,” one of John Philip Sousa’s 10 most-often performed marches in the world. This was followed by Sousa’s top performer, “Stars & Stripes Forever.”

The evening began with the high school band performing a four-movement “Suite Provencale.” In another number, student Michael Jaquez performed a solo, “Sonatina,” on the marimba.

The evening served as a kickoff for the town’s honorary mayor campaign, a major fundraiser for the town hall. The current honorary mayor, Sharon Davis, announced she will be seeking re-election. Votes are a $1 donation to the restoration fund of the historic , which marked its 117th anniversary on Washington’s Birthday.

Nominating forms for the two-year volunteer position are available online at www.ramonatownhall.com. The campaign will run for the next two months, with the candidate raising the most money proclaimed the winner at the annual Fourth of July celebration.