Wheaton Municipal Band salutes the audience on Aug. 9
On August 9, at 8:00 p.m. the Wheaton Municipal Band plays its last Thursday Concert of the Season. All the music for this concert comes directly from audience requests. Throughout the season, the audience plays an integral role in making each concert successful. However, it is a mutual admiration relationship. The band so appreciates the large devoted audience that applauds every concert until Director Bruce Moss relents, and plays an encore. The audience so appreciates the talented band, announcer Pete Friedmann, and the Maestro, Dr. Bruce Moss. The country's top conductors call the Wheaton Municipal Band a “gem.”
So what does the audience want to hear? An eclectic mix. Some of the choices include Variations on America, by Charles Ives, Blue Tango, by Leroy Anderson and Godzilla Eats Las Vegas, by Eric Whitacre. Of course, there is more, but you will have to wait and see what else the audience requested.
A surprise, last minute soloist plans to walk onto the band shell stage, trumpeter, John Hagstrom. Hagstrom, a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's trumpet section since 1996, soloed with the Wheaton Band several years ago. He wowed the audience with his precision, brilliant tone and sensitivity. He will be performing Portrait of a Trumpet, by Sammy Nestico.
Andy Nogal, the band's principal oboist, also is one of the evening's featured soloists. “I selected Johann Nepomuk Hummel's Introduction, Theme and Variations, because it is a charming, catchy work, perfect for an outdoor summer concert.” This work, originally for oboe and orchestra, has been transcribed for band accompaniment by Marc Fink. Andy holds two Bachelors degrees (2007) -- one in music performance, one in Art History -- from Northwestern University, where he later received a Masters degree (2010). His wind quintet, “The City of Tomorrow,” won the gold medal in the wind division of the 2011 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. The City of Tomorrow now tours regularly, with upcoming performances scheduled across the Midwest, in western Canada, and on the west coast. Andy also teaches oboe lessons at Loyola University Chicago and play regularly with Ensemble Dal Niente and the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra.
Even though August 9 is the last Thursday night concert of the season, you can still hear the band perform indoors at Edman Chapel at Wheaton College on Saturday, August 11. The featured soloists will grace the stage: Dr. Benjamin Pierce (Professor at the University of Arkansas), euphonium.
Both concerts are free and start at 8:00. Thursday, in Memorial Park, and Saturday, at Edman Chapel at Wheaton College. Don't miss the Wheaton Municipal Band's final two concerts of the 2012 season.