The Wheaton Municipal Band Lets Freedom Ring

Come hear the Wheaton Municipal Band at their annual indoor concert: Let Freedom Ring, on Saturday, August 1 at 8:00 p.m. at Edman Chapel on the campus of Wheaton College. Fans of the band are used to fighting the outdoor elements. Neither rain, nor sleet, nor heat nor cold nor mosquitoes will keep the loyal fans away. But once a year the fans can relax in comfort, in the air-conditioned concert hall at Edman Chapel. Although this is not a function of Wheaton College, the band arranges to rent the hall, and offer a free concert as a thank you to the City of Wheaton and all the people that support the band.

This year the concert features some amazing talent. Assistant Director First Lieutenant Ryan J. Nowlin is no stranger to the Wheaton Municipal Band. A former grad-student of Dr. Moss' at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, 6 years ago Nowlin was commissioned to write a piece for Dr. Moss and the Wheaton Municipal Band entitled, "The Makers Mark." The band has performed it numerous times to rave reviews. Nowlin joined "The President's Own" United States Marine Band in August 2010 as a staff arranger. He was appointed Assistant Director and commissioned as first lieutenant in July 2014. 1st Lt. Nowlin arranged and composed a variety of selections for the Marine Band, Marine Chamber Orchestra, brass quintet, and various other small ensembles. His music has been performed at the White House, in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, across the country during the band's annual concert tour, at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. It is a treat to welcome Nowlin back to Wheaton where the band will perform his "Toccata and Fugue" in D minor by Bach and his "O'Henry March."

Also on the program, is Gunnery Sergeant Sara Dell'Omo. She joined "The President's Own" United States Marine Band in May 2005, becoming the first featured female vocal soloist in Marine Band history. Prior to joining "The President's Own," Gunnery Sgt. Dell'Omo was a member of the U.S. Army Band's Army Chorale at Fort Myer in Arlington, VA. One of the selections for the evening, features Dell'Omo singing a Marine Band arrangement of Johnny Mercer tunes.

In addition, The Chicago Symphony French Horn player Oto Carrillo plays the Mozart Horn Concert No. 3 and Villanelle by Dukas. Carrillo joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (horn section in 2000. A native of Guatemala, Carrillo grew up in Chicago. He has a bachelor of music degree from DePaul University and a masters degree in both music performance and musicology from Northwestern University.

The Wheaton Municipal Band will of course play marches, including "Semper Fi" by Sousa and "The Stars and Stripes Forever." And of course there is more.