“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.”

The famous Greek philosopher Plato held this opinion more than 2,300 years ago, and it still holds true today.

Everyone can relate to hearing a particular song or melody and being transported back in time, to remember a particular person or event. Music transcends generations and is ever lasting.

One of biggest honors that I have had in the almost 18 months since arriving in Bainbridge was attending and introducing the Bainbridge British Brass Band during the traditional Christmas Eve caroling at Willis Park last year. And I look forward to carrying on that tradition for many years to come.

This fine tradition began in 1976 as just an idea of Ed Mobley, retired president of Bainbridge College, and Sam Griffin, former owner and publisher of The Post-Searchlight. The idea was for a few people to gather downtown to visit and enjoy caroling before going to their church’s Christmas Eve service or home to be with their families. Our community is a better community because of these two men.

Now, 34 years later, the tradition continues, and I feel privileged that The Post-Searchlight will sponsor this event and the band.

The musicians in the band over these years have all been volunteers who participate because they agree with Plato.

This year, more musicians and community members than ever before will have the chance to become involved in the newly named Bainbridge Community Band. A traditional British Brass Band includes, as the name implies, just brass instruments, such as trumpets, trombones and tubas.

The Bainbridge Community Band will include those instruments, but will also include woodwind instruments, such as flutes, oboes, clarinets and saxophones. This change gives the opportunity for more members of the community to participate and the response for the musicians in our community has been overwhelming.

Led by my friend, Paschal Ward, more than 80 band members have been rehearsing and practicing to get ready for the annual Christmas Eve performance at Willis Park. The musicians are all volunteers and include people from our community encompassing all walks of life. We have doctors and lawyers, young musicians and older musicians, business owners and retirees. I very much look forward to hearing them play.

The members in the band are not professionals, they play for the enjoyment and personal growth that such a group provides. They have committed time and effort to the rehearsals and performances and I appreciate each and every one for their dedication to this effort.

But, you will have the opportunity to experience holiday music performed by this group before Christmas Eve.

The premiere performance of the Bainbridge Community Band will be on Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the Kirbo Center on the campus of Bainbridge College.

The performance will begin at 7 p.m., and there will be no charge for admission. This is a community event involving community members.

Please join us on the evening of Dec. 15, these musicians deserve to have their music heard. And I bet you will have a good time all the while.