The W.D. Packard Concert Band will celebrate its 70th anniversary with the debut of a newly commissioned work.

Jerry Ascione, a 1975 Dana School of Music graduate who spent 31 years as a musician, composer and arranger with the U.S. Navy bands, composed “We, Are Packard” and will conduct the work at Sunday’s concert at Packard Music Hall.

Ascione has written several pieces for the band and knows the ensemble well.

“I went to college with a lot of those folks,” Ascione said.

“I know pretty much everybody.”

He drew upon those connections as he was writing.

The first part was inspired by the death of Stephen L. Gage, a retired Dana School of Music professor who was conductor of the W.D. Packard Band from 2012 until his death in 2023.

“I wanted to give a nod to what Steve had imparted t

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