The Wheaton Municipal Band Salutes Young Musicians
The Wheaton Municipal Band invites Wheaton Middle School and High School students to the stage for an exciting concert on Thursday, June 16 at 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Park in downtown Wheaton for the second concert of the 2016 season. The salute to Wheaton's youth brings families and students together along with the professional musicians of the Wheaton Municipal Band. The band's music director, Dr. Bruce Moss, masterfully conducts all these musicians under the band shell for a rousing concert.
Part of the WMB's mission is to encourage and reach out to young musicians. Many of the student musicians say it is a special experience that encourages them to keep practicing and continue in music. Six years ago, Patrick Potts, received a Wheaton Municipal Band scholarship from the Friends of the WM Band. This year he auditioned and joined the band's percussion section as a regular member of the band. Edison Middle School Student Ben Gorski will sit in the clarinet section on Thursday night while his great-grandmother, Marcie Matze (93 years old) sits in the front row of the audience. Matze has been a long time fan of the band and arrives early for each concert to reserve her spot in the front row. The Wheaton Middle School students join the band for two numbers during the concert. Hubble Middle School Band director, Blake Jancius conducts Ryan Nowlin's composition, Shipwrecked and Edison Middle School director, Jill Carr conducts a march.
In addition, the concert will feature two Wheaton area high school students. Dakota Tameling, a sophomore at Timothy Christian High School performs the Strauss French Horn Concerto and Emma Berry, a junior at Wheaton Warrenville South performs Variations on The Carnival of Venice for flute. Both students receive a $500 scholarship from the Friends of the Wheaton Municipal Band as their prize for winning the WMB's concerto competition.
The evening's program also includes some exciting works for concert band. Clifton Williams Symphonic Dance #3 highlights the full richness of a concert band and shows off the percussion section as well as the principal trumpet. The Wheaton Municipal Band's music director, Dr. Bruce Moss programs each concert with mastery. He beautifully contrasts upbeat, straightforward marches against heart- warming compositions, such as Themes from Green Bushes by Granger. There is much more on the program.
Don't miss an exciting evening on Thursday, June 16 at 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Park in downtown Wheaton. Bring a lawn chair and a picnic and relax while enjoying the first class Wheaton Municipal.