Volunteer musicians from all across central Illinois will be joining together to perform tonight.

The Community Band, sponsored by the Charleston Parks and Recreation Department, is comprised of 60 members from Charleston, Champaign, Greenup, Mattoon and the surrounding area.

The program began 29 years ago in Charleston with approximately 25 members, said John Daum, band coordinator, who has been with the program since the beginning. Of the original members, six still perform with the group.

“They’re very faithful people who have not left town,” Daum said.

When the band first began performing, they traveled around the city playing at various locations. The band members would set up their instruments, perform, then load the truck and return all the equipment.

Those procedures changed about 10 years ago, Daum said. At this time, the city installed a band platform at Kiwanis Park for the Community Band to use. Four years ago, further improvements were made.

Daum and city manager Scott Smith, who was involved with parks and recreation at the time, designed the amphitheater that now stands at the park.

“We have one of the finest band shells around,” said Daum.

An amphitheater replicating the one at Kiwanis Park has recently been built in Mattoon.

The band is a recreation band, meaning that its members are all volunteers and participate in their free time.

“Most of the people plan their vacation so they don’t miss band time,” Daum said.

Daum is impressed with the talent and performances of the band.

“We have a top quality for the kind of band [recreational] we have,” he said.

Members of the band donate a lot of time to the program. The band practices every Tuesday evening and performs every Thursday for six weeks. In addition to time, several members also donate money in the form of gas to travel to Charleston twice a week.

With nearly all the members of the band being returning members, Daum is confident that this season’s performances will not disappoint audiences.

“After hearing people practice the other day,” Daum said, “I’m not the least bit worried.”

The Community Band will perform this evening at 7:30 at the Kiwanis Park Amphitheater. Kiwanis Park is located at Division Street and Jackson Avenue.