Aurora American Legion band wraps up season July 30 with patriotic tunes

The all-volunteer Aurora American Legion Band will conclude its 2023 season with a concert at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Aurora's west side.

The concert will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 30, at the church, 85 S. Constitution Drive. The concert is free to attend; however, donations to the band are greatly appreciated.

The band, formed in 1937, honors those actively serving and veterans that served in the United States Armed Forces. The band primarily performs in the summer months, appearing in area parades and performing concerts at venues around the Fox River Valley.

"Our final concert will be the only concert indoors this season. We have been incredibly lucky with the weather this year, but performing indoors is a nice treat for not only our members but our audience as well," said band president Greg Probst.

On Sunday, the band will be paying tribute to America's military by playing patriotic standards and selections steeped in Americana.

The band is known for closing each performance with a "Salute to the Services," a medley of military service tunes transcribed by former member, the late Mike LaGow, and John Philip Sousa's "The Stars and Stripes Forever," as performed by "The President's Own" United States Marine Band.

The band is led by conductor Patty Sampson who is currently in her 29th year of teaching and her 18th year at West Aurora High School.

A native of Joliet, Sampson earned her undergraduate degree in music from DePaul University and her Master's degree in Music Education from Northwestern University.

Aurora native Greg Hensel is the band's associate conductor and trumpet section member. In his 11th year of teaching high school band, Mr. Hensel received his undergraduate in Music Education at Illinois State University.

In preparation for next year's season, the band is actively seeking veteran musicians to join as playing members.

For more information, call (630) 423-6116 or email greg@probst.xyz.