BY SARAH STEPHENS
PHOTOS BY BOB EALUM – ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Please enjoy the photos, including the photo gallery below.
A tremendous and patriotic crowd filled the Doster Center in Prattville Sunday to enjoy beautiful music from the Prattville Pops and Community Chorus. This was a free event as the beginning of Independence Day festivities in Prattville.
Multiple agencies also assisted in the day, including the Atagi Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution State Color Guard.
A patriotic tree was on display and provided by the Atagi NSDAR. The theme of the tree was the 125th anniversary of the premiere of John Philip Sousa’s Starts and Stripes Forever.
The talented artists presented more than a dozen pieces of music to the crowd, beginning with Star-Spangled Banner and ending with The Stars and Stripes Forever March.
In the mix were also the Armed Forces Salute, the Alabama State Song, America, the Beautiful and Battle Hymn of the Republic among others.
Members of the crowd waved American flags and sang along to many of the tunes. A few in the crowd were even emotional, at time wiping their eyes.
This event kicked off Prattville’s huge Independence Day celebration, which will continue July 4 with a morning parade through downtown, the annual Lions Club Barbecue, Cardboard Boat races and much more. The celebration will continue Tuesday evening with a huge fireworks display from the Click Tower after dark.
The Prattville Community Chorus was established in 1972 as an organization to provide cultural opportunities for its adult volunteer members and this region by providing choral programs for the public. The Chorus sings a variety of music from jazz to classical and from sacred to contemporary. They perform at numerous City of Prattville events as well as as organizational and civic events. It is a non-denominational organization and auditions are not required.
The Prattville Community Chorus is sponsored by the City of Prattville and the Cultural Arts Office located at 203 West 4th Street in Prattville. The Chorus is a member of the Prattville Creative and Performing Arts Council.
Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at First Methodist Church of Prattville at 4th and Chestnut Streets.
The Prattville Pops Community Band was formed in 2002 under the direction of Ronnie Mallory. The Pops debut performance was December 6, 2022, as part of the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in front of City Hall in downtown Prattville.
Although the band started small, with only 15 members, it has grown over the past 21 years to 35 active members with all wind and percussion instruments represented.
Since Prattville is host to numerous military families who are only with us for a short time, The Pops alumni roster boasts over 100 members.
The Pops is sponsored by the City of Prattville and is a non-audition band open to all adults.
For information regarding membership or sponsorship opportunities, call (334) 595-0850 or visit www.prattvilleal.gov
See gallery below of photos taken from the event by Bob Ealum.
