Choral Arts Society of Frederick & Frederick Catoctones Present The Music Man in Concert

Friday May 1 at 7:30 p.m. & Saturday May 2 at 3:00 p.m. | Jack B. Kussmaul Theater, Frederick Community College

Frederick, MD – The Choral Arts Society of Frederick (CASF) will close out its 82nd season with a rousing Broadway favorite: The Music Man in Concert. In an exciting collaboration with special musical guests the Frederick Catoctones, this lively production brings Meredith Willson’s unforgettable songs to life for two family-friendly performances on Friday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 2 at 3:00 p.m.

From the first brassy notes of “Seventy-Six Trombones” to the heartfelt charm of “Till There Was You,” this beloved American classic has delighted audiences for generations.

The story follows fast-talking salesman Harold Hill as he sweeps the town of River City, Iowa into marching-band fever—much to the skepticism of librarian Marian Paroo. Filled with humor, warmth, and memorable songs, The Music Man remains one of Broadway’s most enduring crowd-pleasers.

This concert presentation isn’t a production of the show, but it will present all of the show’s musical numbers in order similar to the way the famed PBS airing of Les Mis in Concert has done for decades. Audiences can expect rousing choral numbers, in-character hilarity, solos and small ensembles that make up the musical. 

For fans of the musical, the barbershop sounds of the quartet of River City townsmen in the story are one of the most beloved highlights, and with Frederick having its own barber shop singing group, this joint production was an irresistible partnership.

With CASF’s dynamic choral sound and the close-harmony barbershop style of the Frederick Catoctones, this season-ending showstopper celebrates the uniquely American tradition of a cappella barbershop harmony alongside Broadway’s golden-age of musical theater, and promises high energy, warm nostalgia, and plenty of toe-tapping fun. 

The performance will take place in the Jack B. Kussmaul Theater at Frederick Community College, CASF’s regular-season home. With seating for more than 400 patrons, the theater provides an intimate yet vibrant setting for this concert celebration of Broadway and American harmony.

Tickets are now on sale for both performances. Whether you’ve “got trouble,” a quarrelsome librarian, or a rambunctious 10-year-old in your life, audiences of all ages will find something to love in this joyful and family-friendly finale.

The Music Man Concert Version is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

Event Details

The Music Man in Concert
Presented by the Choral Arts Society of Frederick & the Frederick Catoctones
Friday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 2 at 3:00 p.m.
Jack B. Kussmaul Theater
Frederick Community College
Frederick, Maryland

Venue Information:
General admission seating. Tickets available online in advance or at the box office prior to the performance. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Wheelchair seating is available. Fire regulations limit capacity to 409 seats.

About Choral Arts Society of Frederick

For more than 80 years, the Choral Arts Society of Frederick has cultivated a vibrant, inclusive, multi-generational community through the study and performance of quality choral music. Performing a wide range of repertoire on its home stage at Frederick Community College, CASF is known for delivering dynamic, engaging concerts that celebrate both tradition and innovation.

About the Catoctones: 

The Frederick Catoctones Barbershop Chorus was founded in 1967 in Frederick, Maryland as a chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America, Inc (SPEBSQA). SPEBSQA has since changed to the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS). 

They are  known for their rich four-part a cappella harmony rooted in the barbershop tradition—an original American musical style built on ringing chords and classic circle-of-fifths progressions. Their repertoire ranges from early 20th-century barbershop favorites to mid-century standards made famous by artists like the Mills Brothers and Frank Sinatra, as well as more modern tunes from performers such as Elvis Presley, Billy Joel, and even the Plain White T’s.

The award-winning chorus has a long history of musical excellence, earning honors in Southern Division and Mid-Atlantic District competitions of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Among their achievements are multiple Intermediate and Small Chorus championships, including the Mid-Atlantic District Small Chorus Championship and an invitation to compete in the National Small Chorus Competition. 

Beyond competition, the Catoctones are a familiar presence at community events throughout Frederick County, performing at Frederick Keys baseball games, the Clustered Spires High Wheel Bike Race, and occasionally singing the national anthem for the Baltimore Orioles or Washington Nationals.