Concert

1. Sounds of strings The 2013 All County Middle and High School Orchestra concert, with Jan Wagner conducting the middle school orchestra and Elizabeth Shulze conducting the high school orchestra. Concert is at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at North Hagerstown High School auditorium, Pennsylvania Avenue, Hagerstown. $4, advance; $5, at the door. Senior citizen Gold Cards and Washington County Public School employee ID badges will be honored. 2. Unfinished Business Unfinished Business will perform from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at Hillbilly Heaven, 3280 Martinsburg Road, Berkeley Springs, W.Va.

Washington County Public Schools will present the 2013 All County Middle and High School Orchestra concert Saturday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m. at North Hagerstown High School. The event will feature Maryland Symphony Orchestra Conductor Elizabeth Schulze leading the All County Senior High School Orchestra. The All County Middle School Orchestra will be conducted by Jan Wagner of Shenandoah University. Tickets cost $4 in advance and $5 at the door. Senior citizen gold cards will be honored.

The Top Five Make Me Laugh Comedy Tour Hosted by Chad Beadle and featuring C.J. Burney, Stacey Carver and Jennifer Nelson. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Majestic Restaurant, 908 Dual Highway, Hagerstown. $15 at the door. Call 240-367-5052. Go to www.makemelaughchad.com . Squeeze the Bag A bagpipe concert with E.J. Jones, Ivan Goff, Ian Lawther and Matt and Shannon Heaton, featuring music of various types of bagpipes. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Shepherd University's Reynolds Hall, King Street, Shepherdstown, W.Va.

There were comedians and ventriloquists, acrobats and dancing poodles. And every Sunday evening, “The Ed Sullivan Show” escorted them into the homes of millions of Americans. Thousands of acts appeared on Sullivan's television variety program, which ran for two decades. But it was a performance in 1956 by a singer in blue suede shoes that would become a historic pop moment. Swiveling his hips, playing his guitar and launching into such hits as “Don't Be Cruel” and “Love Me Tender,” Elvis Presley's appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” was a ratings success, leading to two more appearances in 1957 watched by millions of his fans.

First Baptist Church, Faith Gospel Singers will present a concert at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Beth Hudak brought five of her 18 grandchildren to “A Hagerstown Holiday,” a free concert given Sunday afternoon by the Hagerstown Municipal Band and Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Wind Band at The Maryland Theatre. Hudak, 61, of Hagerstown, settled in between the youngsters: Thomas Hudak, 7; Sofia Hudak, 4; Grace Flynn, 7; Kate Flynn, 5; and Moria Flynn, 4. “I just thought it would be something fun to do,” Beth Hudak said. The children don't usually get to see a live band, she said.

There are a few things you can usually count on at the Williamsport Community Band's annual Christmas concert. The band will perform “The Night Before Christmas” while the poem is read to children, Santa will drop by and hand out toys donated through the Marine Corps League's Toys for Tots program and Nelson Deal will serve as announcer for the program. Deal, 81, said he's missed a few of the band's concerts due to his health and, one day, there will be a younger announcer, but he enjoys the role.

An audience comprising children, parents and grandparents gathered Saturday night at The Maryland Theatre for what patrons described as a joyous beginning to the holiday season. The Maryland Symphony Orchestra's annual Home for the Holidays concert included favorites such as “Winter Wonderland” and “White Christmas.” The concert will be held again Sunday at 3 p.m. “It is a tradition, and many people bring their families. It is an opportunity to ring in the season. It is a real way to bring everybody together, to greet your neighbors and say happy holidays,” said Tamara Nuzzaci Park, executive director of the MSO. Park said she was thrilled to have the Northern Middle School's girls ensemble perform at the concert this year.

The sounds of Christmas will ring with the St. James Brass Quintet and the Haven Lutheran Church Senior Choir Saturday at 5 p.m. at Haven Lutheran Church, 1035 Haven Road. The yearly concert is a must, featuring Christmas carols and old-time favorites. As attendees leave the concert, they will be treated to the warm glow of the luminarias at Rest Haven Cemetery next door. The concert is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served following the concert. For more information, call 301-733-5056.