Wheaton Municipal Band presents its Grand Finale Aug. 11

For the last concert of the 2012 season, the Wheaton Municipal Band moves indoors to Edman Chapel on the Wheaton College Campus and presents a stunning array of music. On Saturday, August 11 at 8:00 p.m., Dr. Bruce Moss conducts the world-class band in a FREE concert of amazing music. Regular audience members know how good the Wheaton Municipal Band is. Come and hear the great concert.

Joining the band is world class Euphonium virtuoso Dr. Benjamin Pierce. Pierce plays the velvety sounds of the Euphonium like no other, and will amaze the audience with Concerto for Euphonium by David Gillingham and Napoli (Theme and Variations on Funiculi, Funicula) by Bellstadt. The sweet sound of the Euphonium corresponds to the cello in the orchestra. Although fingered like a trumpet or tuba, the Euphonium sits harmonically in the mid-range and is used principally in bands. Pierce, professor at the University of Arkansas, won Dozens of international tuba and euphonium artist competitions held in the United States, Japan, Germany, Finland, South Korea, England, and Italy. He frequently solos at home and abroad performing many solo recitals as well as concerti with such ensembles as the premier United States military bands, top American brass bands, and such orchestras as the Tokyo Symphony, Oulu Symphony (Finland), and Vogtland Philharmonie (Germany). Pierce has performed with the Detroit Symphony, the Detroit Chamber Brass, the Toledo Symphony, the Flint Symphony, and the Tulsa Symphony. He has served as principal tubist of the Ann Arbor Symphony and is principal tubist of SONA, formerly the North Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. He is a member of the acclaimed Brass Band of Battle Creek, featuring many of the world's greatest brass players. With the BBBC, he has performed on three different instruments.

Of course, the world class Wheaton Municipal Band plans to show off as well with The Dam Busters March by Eric Coates (heard at Olympics opening at the helicopter scene), and The Maker's Mark, by Ryan Nowlin (commissioned by the WMB several years ago) and much more. The Maker's Mark, commissioned by the WMB for Dr. Bruce Moss's 30th anniversary as director of the band, recently was published and added to contemporary band literature.

Usually after the Edman Concert the members of the Wheaton Municipal Band turn in their uniforms and wait until next year to start performing again in Memorial Park. However, this year the band was selected to perform at the Prestigious Midwest Band Conference at McCormick Place in December. “This is a great honor,” said Don Cavalli, the band's president. “Few bands are selected through a blind audition process,” said Cavalli. “We are one of only two community bands featured to play over the past few years. What is even more remarkable is that this band does not get the opportunity to rehearse as other bands do. The Wheaton Band typically gets one rehearsal per performance. It is a tribute to the great musicianship of the band and the director, Dr. Moss.”

Don't miss this great FREE concert on August 11, at 8:00 p.m. at Edman Chapel on the Wheaton College campus.