Military Orchestra Graces Lofte Stage

Many musicians and singers who have visited the Lofte's stage have all made the same comment; "The acoustics in here are GREAT!" In an effort to showcase just how well our theater is designed for live music, the Lofte is excited to announce that in December, we will be hosting our very first orchestral concert.

On Sunday, December 7th at 2pm, the 43rd Army Band from Lincoln will present a one-hour concert. The sixty-member orchestra will fill the entire Lofte stage. The concert will include patriotic selections, marches and emphasize holiday music. The concert is free and open to the public – no ticket is required for admission.

The 43rd's members are citizen soldiers who bring a wide variety of skills, talents and longevity to the unit. The members' various civilian jobs and experiences contribute a great deal to the overall success of the 43rd Army Band. This group meets one weekend a month and 15 days during the summer to rehearse and to fulfill military training requirements.

Officially, the band traces its history back to 1924 when it was created in Crete, Nebraska as the "Band Section, Service Company 110th Medical Regiment." The band went through several reorganizations and on March 3, 1948, the band was federally recognized as the 43rd Army Band. Over the years, they have not only won several music competitions, but also received many designations for overall excellence as well as tropies for Outstanding Company.

The Lofte has hosted other military groups in the past, one as recently as this November. However, when given the chance to host such an impressive group, the Lofte jumped at the chance. We welcome everyone in the surrounding communities to join us for our first Christmas Symphony. It's sure to be a memorable event for years to come.