A free concert, the “Eclectic Gala Pops,” by the 50 piece Fountain Hills Community Band is set for Sunday, April 17.

To accommodate the expected crowd, the Community Center will host the concert in its full-scale open venue starting at 4 p.m.

With conductor Ed Madden’s programming philosophy of “something you should hear, something you would like to hear, and something we would like to play,” the concert promises to be entertaining.

Madden said, “‘Pops means music that’s basically familiar and which can include popular classics as well as fairly recent songs and/or instrumental music.”

The program begins with Copland’s famous “Fanfare for the Common Man,” followed by “Mannin Veen,” a beautiful, exciting symphonic work for band.

Selections from “West Side Story” will be conducted by Roy Nickel, with this portion of the program ending with “March Festivo,” an original composition by the conductor.

Of special interest at the center of the concert will be a lighthearted musical flying excursion to Italy with the singing of “Volare” by Debby Fisher in a new arrangement especially created for this program. Later, with the “tongue in cheek” sponsorship of songs by Fountain Hills Italian restaurants, a symphonic medley of beloved Italian melodies entitled “La Melodia D'Italia,” following which will be a surprise novelty not to be missed.

The community band is in its seventh year and comprises musicians from all walks of life from this and several surrounding communities. Membership ages range from the teens to the eighties.