The musician-led band of Butler will have its second of three summer performances Thursday evening, July 9. The event will feature songs “in celebration of our country.”

Jeff Kroner, director of Musicians’ Concert Band, said the band has played concerts every summer for 40 years, save for 2020, and is made up of people volunteering their time for the love of music and entertainment. The show begins at 7 p.m. Thursday at Butler Intermediate High School, 551 Fairground Hill Road, Butler Township, and is free to attend.

“Quite a few marches, patriotic songs, honoring the military, a lot of Americana stuff,” Kroner said of the song selection for the show. “It’s an incredible group of musicians who can prepare a show like this in one night.”

The band, which is made up of about 130 people with up to 90 performing at each concert, practiced for the show Wednesday evening.

Kroner revealed some of the songs the band will play, which include a few John Williams songs, “Armed Forces Salute,” “Strategic Air Command March” and “Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite.” He said these tunes are not only memorable and familiar to most audiences, but are elevated by the skill of the members of the band.

“You trust your musicians to do what they need to do,” Kroner said.

This is Kroner’s first summer directing the Musicians’ Concert Band after retiring from his career as a music educator with Butler Area School District the previous summer. He said the name of the band is derived from the talent of the ensemble, which is displayed at every performance of the group.

“It's an honor to have this. This group has been playing for 40 years now,” Kroner said. “It’s the Musicians’ band because we believe it’s the musicians who make it as great as it is.”

Doors open for the performance at 6 p.m., and Kroner said attendees can make donations at the door, which are used to purchase music and supplies for the band.