Naperville Municipal Band strikes up their summer concert series
The Naperville Municipal Band is celebrating its 154th season by kicking off its summer concert series at 7:30 p.m. Thursday with the theme, “Curtain Up,” featuring their eighth-grade scholarship winners.
This year, the band has added an additional concert for a total of 11 free concerts beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays from June 6 to Aug. 15 at the Community Concert Center in Naperville’s Central Park, 104 E. Benton Ave., Naperville.
The band is directed by Ron Keller, who is celebrating his 61st year with the band. Each concert includes an ice cream social, sponsored by a local nonprofit. For more information, visit napervilleband.org, call (630) 778-9994 or email info@napervilleband.org.
The first 1,000 audience members to arrive in Central Park have a chance to win one of four $25 gift certificates — two from the local merchant supporting that evening’s performance and two from the band. Thanks to the Downtown Naperville Alliance, the sponsors include Naper Settlement, The German Language School of Naperville, WAR Chest International, Two Bostons Pet Boutique, Room 363, Q-BBQ Restaurant, Ellman’s Music Center, Le Chocolat du Bouchard, Couture Vision, Naperville Bank and Trust, and Score 18 Indoor Golf.
The concert schedule following the June 6 kickoff is as follows:
Ÿ June 13: “Memories of the Circus,” with Ringmaster Anthony Cesaretti.
Ÿ June 20: “A Tale of Two Cities (Naperville and South Bend Ind.)” with featured performers from the University of Notre Dame.
Ÿ June 27: “Prelude to Celebration” is a patriotic concert usually held on July 4. The concert will feature the Civil War cannons and the “1812 Overture,” which is dedicated to the late Naperville Mayor Chester Rybicki.
Ÿ July 4: “From Glenn Miller to Sousa,” a concert of popular American music, starts early at 7 p.m. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring a picnic dinner.
Ÿ July 11: Features the NMB Jazz Band.
Ÿ July 18: “A Haunted Evening in Central Park” invites children to dress up in their Halloween costumes for a children’s parade.
Ÿ July 25: “A Melodic Extravaganza” features selections from assistant director René Rosas, vocalist Cathy Lord and the Firefighters Highland Guard of Naperville.
Ÿ Aug. 1: “A Melodic Caravan” celebrates band member Florence Landorf’s 50th anniversary with the band with selections she has chosen.
Ÿ Aug. 8: The NMB Joint Jazz Concert.
Ÿ Aug. 15: “Weather or Not,” the last concert of the season, features the United States Navy Band of the Midwest.
If you go
What: Curtain Up, opening concert of Naperville Municipal Bands summer concert series
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6
Where: Community Concert Center in Central Park, 104 E. Benton Ave., Naperville
Cost: Free
Info: napervilleband.org