Wheaton Municipal Band kicks off Fourth of July weekend with 'Patriotic Concert'

Of all the concerts the Wheaton Municipal Band performs, the most beloved is the "Patriotic Concert."

This summer, the band kicks off the Fourth of July celebrations at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 29, in Memorial Park, 225 Karlskoga Ave. in downtown Wheaton,

Music director Dr. Bruce Moss gives the downbeat to a rousing evening of American music.

In addition, The Dixie Cups, a Dixieland swing band comprised of Wheaton Municipal Band musicians, gets the sound waves bopping from 6 to 6:30 p.m. It's a night of American music to celebrate the Independence Day holiday.

When you think of American music, Morton Gould comes to mind. Gould was a composer, conductor and pianist who crossed over between Broadway, symphonic works, jazz, chamber ensembles and arrangements for concert band.

Moss programs two of Gould's works, "American Salute," which is a variation on "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again," and "Star-Spangled Overture," a creative interplay arrangement of the "Star Spangled Banner." It doesn't get anymore Americana than Morton Gould's works.

The band also is celebrating the 100th anniversary of E.F. Goldman's most celebrated march, "On the Mall," first performed in York City's Central Park on June 25, 1923.

The Wheaton Municipal Band keeps with tradition in performing "The Armed Forces Medley," where the audience and the band salute servicemen and women in the audience, and "Stars and Stripes Forever." Of course, the band has much more music on the program to stir the patriotic soul for the evening, including Sousa marches.

After the concert, there is no rest for the Wheaton Municipal Band.

Following the concert, the very next day, the Wheaton Municipal Band loads onto coach buses and heads out toward Champaign-Urbana to perform at the famous Krannert Concert Hall on the University of Illinois campus.

The acoustics and state-of-the-art sound at the Great Hall are known throughout the world. As part of the University of Illinois' performing arts center, the Wheaton Municipal Band is honored to be invited to perform at this venue.

This performance is part of the Midwest region of the American Band Directors Association and the Illinois Summer Youth Music Camps meetings. The featured soloist for the evening is the band's principal oboist, Andrew Nogel.

Come early, save a spot, and picnic in the park while listening to the Dixieland swing sounds of the Dixie Cups at 6 p.m.

For more information check out the band's website at www.wheatonmunicipalband.org.