A message from the Hot Springs Concert Band...

Completing the 2026 Summer Concert Series

The Hot Springs Concert Band (HSCB) completed the 2026 Summer Concert Series on Monday evening, July 27, at the Arkansas School of Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts (ASMSA) - and what a series it was. Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Jim Lloyd provided a total of 42 wonderful selections for "Young at Heart," "Summer Book Club," "Class Reunion" and "Heroic Measures." 

"Heroic Measures" gave a near concert hall capacity audience a musical tour of 11 heroes, measure by measure (musical pun intended), song by song of heroes from several walks of life - including a multigenerational comic book to silver screen hero (Captain America), a western big screen hero who stood alone against vengeful outlaws and his own town (Will Cane in "High Noon"), a heroin of early America (Pocahontas), a law enforcement hero with a flair for comedy and gadgets (Maxwell Smart), a sports hero with determination and courage that transcended a handicap (Rudy [Ruettiger]), a masked hero protecting the poor and ordinary people (Zorro), a superhero without superpowers but with a colorful and well equipped costume (Batman), a group of funny heroes who parodied some of our real World War II heroes, allowing US to see that era in a more forgiving and reflective spirit, and a family of Marshalls who stood for law and order in one of the last wild west shootouts (Tombstone). Then there is a hero who gave his country some of the most memorable music in her history. Then he gave his country his life, while battling the system and the enemy to bring that music to a war for those fighting the war and who won the war (Glenn Miller). 

And last, but certainly not least, a hero who many of us in the band made music with and knew - a man who not only died a hero's death but lived a hero's life (Ken Williams) through the pouring of himself into thousands of young lives over a 38-year career as a band director, friend and mentor. Twenty of those years were invested into the HSCB as a trombonist and associate conductor. What a tremendous legacy Ken left to us!

The most poignant moment of the concert came when Sotonya Gordey, HSCB Board Member and high school and college friend of Ken Williams, gave a personal testimony and tribute to Ken and asked Ken's wife Cindy to stand. After a standing ovation by the audience, the band performed "Testimony," a beautiful composition by David Gorham specifically commissioned to pay tribute to Ken. The band and the audience were indeed honored that Cindy was a part of this special concert. 

Heroic Measures was a fitting finale to a summer of memorable music, and probably a pleasant reminder to many of you in the audience of your own heroes who are still a part of your lives in 2026. 

The band once again wants to express its sincere appreciation to Cody Ford of the ASMSA for providing such a cool and comfortable venue for four of the concerts - and to Patrick Combs of Fountain Lake High School for making their band room available for the band's rehearsals this summer. These are wonderful folks who the HSCB is proud to be associated with. 

The band will be taking a well-deserved break during August and resume rehearsals on September 3 to prepare for the October 11 Fall Concert at the Woodlands Auditorium in Hot Springs Village. 

Wishing all of you an enjoyable finale to your summer and a hopeful beginning to the cooler and more colorful fall season. 

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