Thomas Groth, executive director of the W.D. Packard Concert Band has a formula when it comes to putting together its Fourth of July.

The goal is to create an evening of entertainment that is audience-friendly while also selecting music and arrangements that are interesting and challenging for the music.

“There’s always a patriotic opening, three or four tunes to say Happy Birthday, America,” Groth said.

The concert next week at the south lawn bandshell will open with “The Star Spangled Banner” and Pledge of Allegiance followed by George Frederick Root’s “The Battle Cry for Freedom,” Ryan Nowlin’s “Let Freedom Ring” and James V. Colonna’s “America Forever” march.

Up next are some numbers featuring guest vocalist Helen Welch — “The Best Things in Life Are Free,” “The Girl from Ipanema,” “On the Sunny Side of the Street” and “Theme from New York, New York.”

“‘New York, New York’ is probably the most requested tune over the years,” Groth said. “I finally found a good band arrangement for it.”

Welch and guest Conductor Frank Tracz both have made many appearances with the band over the years.

“Frank Tracz, he knows his craft,” Groth said. “He’s had a successful program at Kansas State (where he is a professor of music and director of bands). They think a lot of him out there, the band members like him, and he loves coming back here.

“Helen is a favorite. She has her own inimitable style, and the audience loves her. It’s just good family entertainment for the 4th of July.”

The middle section includes some lighter fare, including a medley of songs from “The Roaring Twenties,” Frank Bjorn’s “Alley Cat,” Henry Mancini’s “Pie in the Face Polka” and Rafael Hernandez’s “El Cumbanchero.”

Groth said “The Roaring Twenties” medley features songs that would have been popular when W.D. Packard established the trust that funds the band that bears his name, and Groth always programs a polka for the 4th of July to get the crowd dancing.

Welch will return to sing The Beatles’ “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “The House I Live In” (popularized by Frank Sinatra) and “I’m Gonna Live ‘Til I Die.”

The concert ends with a patriotic finale featuring an Armed Forces salute, Henry Fillmore’s “Our Own Red, White and Blue” March, Thomas Knox’s “American Pageant” and John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and followed by a fireworks display created by Zambelli Fireworks Internationale.

It’s a formula that must be working. During the concert, the band will be presented with a Reader’s Choice Gold Award for best performing arts group as voted on by the newspaper’s readers.

Winners also will be drawn for a cat-themed art raffle that started at the band’s March concert.

Cat-themed art was commissioned by the Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County from artists Rick Muccio of Niles, Corki Swanson of New York and Martha Young of Cortland with proceeds going toward life-saving medical care for felines.

Tickets will be available at the concert until the drawing.

If you go …

WHAT: Fourth of July Spectacular — W.D. Packard Concert Band with Frank Tracz, guest conductor and Helen Welch, vocalist, and followed by fireworks

WHEN: 8 p.m. July 4

WHERE: Packard Music Hall south lawn bandshell, 1703 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren

HOW MUCH: Admission is free and funding is provided by the W.D. Packard trust.

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