SALEM — A new Salem Community Band is in the making — and looking for members.

The band will rehearse over the summer and debut during the Heritage Days Festival on Aug. 10.

Salem resident Cynthia Napierkowski is spearheading the group.

"It should be a great time," said Napierkowski, director of the Salem High School band. "There are a lot of people in the community who play instruments, so it's a nice opportunity to get together and play a concert."

The group will perform in the Salem Willows Shell during Heritage Days on Monday, Aug. 10 at 7 pm.

"We're thrilled about it," said Mayor Kim Driscoll, who said the city extended Heritage Days to accommodate the concert. "Historically, Heritage Days has been all about bringing people within Salem together to celebrate our history, so it seems very fitting to bring together the great musicians we have."

The Community Band is seeking members from grade eight through adults.

"I think we're going to get a wide range of abilities," said Napierkowski. "I have a wide variety of music we'll try at the first rehearsal, and then we'll base our program on that. This is the maiden voyage."

The schools are letting the new Community Band use Salem High School for rehearsals.

Napierkowski, who has taught music in the Salem schools for 22 years, hopes teachers and alumni from the music program will join the band, too.

"I have 22 years of alumni," she said, "and I think a lot of people in the community are looking for a place to play. ...

"This is a great opportunity to dust off the instrument," she said, "to stay in shape if you're already playing, meet some great people and play some fun music."

Join the band

What: Salem Community Band

Who: Open to anyone from grade eight through adult

When: Rehearsals will be held at Salem High School, in the band room on July 13 and 27, and Aug. 3, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Debut: Heritage Days performance, Aug. 10, 7 p.m., Salem Willows Shell

Instruments: Various instruments can be borrowed /provided

Cost to join: Free

Information: Contact Cynthia Napierkowski at 978-744-9690 or 978-790-1511.