DOWAGIAC, Mich. — As the Beckwith Park Summer Concert Series prepares to launch its 2015 season, the Dowagiac Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is pleased to announce Huntington Bank for the eighth consecutive year has agreed to underwrite the popular $5,000 fine arts program that opens this Thursday.

Debbie Knapp, West Michigan marketing specialist in Grand Rapids for Huntington Bank, and Cindy Rolback, branch manager of the Dowagiac office, joined Vickie Phillipson, DDA program director, in making the joint announcement.

Similar to a British-style ensemble, the 25-member Southwestern Michigan College (SMC) Brass Band opens the series this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Beckwith Park, located at the corner of Front and Beeson streets in the downtown.

A member of the North American Brass Band Association, SMC’s brass band was founded in January of 1992 by its current director, Dr. Jonathan Korzun, who also serves as the director of bands at Southwestern Michigan College.

Having coordinated the 10-week summer arts program, Phillipson extended her appreciation to Huntington Bank and said she is also pleased to welcome the return of SMC’s brass band to this year’s line-up of entertainers. The Thursday evening concerts, featuring lawn-chair seating, begin at 7:30 p.m.

“One of three bands at Southwestern Michigan College, the brass band is composed of community members, who are both amateur and professional musicians; SMC students; and talented area high school students,” Korzun said. “The band is a British-style ensemble, which was modeled after the brass bands that are so popular throughout Europe.”

The Southwestern Michigan College Brass Band gives regular performances both on and off-campus, including concerts at the John E.N. Howard Band Shell in St. Joseph, and the Niles Riverfront Amphitheater. Due to the size of the brass band, instrumentalists will be situated on Beeson Street, rather than beneath the Haggin-Wimberley Memorial Bandstand. Phillipson said arrangements have been made to close Beeson Street to motorists Thursday afternoon in preparation for that evening’s concert.

The Beckwith Park Summer Concert Series is presented Thursday evenings in the downtown through Aug. 13. Entertainment this season, which ranges from the Big Band sound to Bluegrass, Folk and pop music of the 1970s and ‘80s, also features: Out of Favor Boys, June 11; Tony Fields, June 18; Lake Effect Jazz Big Band, June 25; Lighthouse Chorus, July 9; Jared Knox Band, July 16; Soltre’, July 23; Big Boss Blues, July 30; Schlitz Creek on Aug. 6 for Huntington Night; and A Touch of Country, Aug. 13.

Should any of the concerts be rained out, Aug. 20 is a scheduled raindate.

Phillipson said, “Huntington’s willingness to underwrite the $5,000 concert series is a wonderful blessing for our community, especially in these uncertain times, when funding for the arts is limited.”

“At Huntington, we’re grateful to have the opportunity to give back to our communities,” Knapp said. “We invest time, talent and resources where we live and work. As we do so, together we make our communities strong.”

“An important part of any community is its arts and cultural programs. Whether through dance, instrumental music or song, Huntington strongly believes in supporting the many forms of arts and cultural programs that enhance the overall quality of life that we all enjoy.”

“Huntington Bank remains true to its values of supporting the local communities that we serve,” Rolback said. “We are proud to once again support the Beckwith Park Summer Concert Series. We believe in investing in community events and programs, which allows us to connect with our community, and to those activities and programs we share a passion for.”

“We look forward to continuing our partnership with the DDA, which plays a leading role in growing this community,” Rolback said. “As a bank invested in people, Huntington is grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Dowagiac Downtown Development Authority as we grow our community’s cultural arts.”

The Beckwith Park Summer Concert Series attracts a loyal and returning audience of music enthusiasts from Dowagiac and surrounding communities. The summer fine arts series is a spin-off of the original music program that was hosted by the Historic Dowagiac Association, which was once held on the lawn outside the old City Hall. Phillipson has coordinated the Beckwith Park concert series for 19 years.

To receive a concert brochure, call the Chamber of Commerce and DDA at (269) 782-8212.