By Connie Ballenger The Glen Mar Summer Concert Series will offer something for everyone in 2025. For those who like chamber music ensemble132 will perform on Friday, June 27. Folks who desire a dose of Guatemalan culture can delight when the Marimba Linda Xelaju hit our stage on Friday, July 18. And those who are passionate about military bands will relish hearing The U.S. Army Field Band perform “Broadway Through the Ages” on August 8. While the types of music will be diverse, these concerts have several things in common: they are all free and open to the public, each will start at 7:00 pm on a Friday in the Spirit Center, and they all feature outstanding musicians. An ensemble132 quintet will present a new chamber music version of Igor Stravinsky’s Petrushka as well as Johannes Brahms’ timeless Piano Quintet. Ensemble132 is a world-class collective of chamber musicians of the highest caliber with the shared mission of reimagining the chamber music landscape. This concert’s ensemble132 performers are Sahun Sam Hong (pianist), Maria Ioudenitch (violinist), Luther Warren (violinist and violist), and Zachary Mowitz (cellist). Emilie-Anne Gendron (violinist) will perform as a guest. The second 2025 concert, Marimba Linda Xelaju, was founded by Robert Giron Sr. who hails from Guatemala. He taught his children how to play the marimba, the national instrument of Guatemala, and in 1996, even before the youngest of his three children was born, Mr. Giron formed this family band. Marimba Linda Xelaju includes his grown children, Jennifer Flores, Beverly Bonilla, and Robert Giron Jr., as well as Beverly’s husband, Jeffrey Bonilla. We will also be blessed with performances by the next generation of family musicians – Mr. Giron’s grandchildren. They are 13-year-old Isabella Flores and 11-year-old Sophie Flores. The only non-family member of the band is Don Mauricio. While most of the group’s music will be Guatemalan tunes, the Marimba Linda Xelaju will play at least one familiar American song, “New York, New York.” There’s no need to travel to New York City to hear Broadway tunes because The U.S. Army Field Band will bring “Broadway Through the Ages” to us at our third 2025 concert. These very talented musicians, dressed in Army uniforms, will include singers from the band’s Soldiers’ Chorus, accompanied by members of its Concert Band and Jazz Ambassadors. They will perform a mix of solos, duets, and larger ensemble numbers. Thanks to community support, this series is free. In 2025 the Howard County Arts Council awarded the series a $5,500 grant. The series also benefits from a generous donation from “Friends of the Music Program at Glen Mar Church” and a financial gift made in memory of Karen Angle. In addition, this series is blessed with a sponsor, Harry H. Witzke’s Family Funeral Home located at 4112 Old Columbia Pike in Ellicott City. For the latest Summer Concert Series information, visit our Summer Concerts Page.