Wheaton Municipal Band Goes for the Gold
The Wheaton Municipal Band's favorite family concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 23, in Memorial Park in downtown Wheaton. Come early and enjoy the Instrument Petting Zoo at 6:30 p.m.
Kids and adults get the chance to toot a horn and try out unique instruments. Squawk like a duck on the oboe, whistle on the flute, blast on the tuba, buzz on the trumpet or even balance the gangly bassoon. The many stations to try out various concert band instruments are manned by Wheaton Municipal Band members who help kids explore each instrument. Children stare in amazement as they realize how hard it is to even get a sound out of each instrument. Then they listen to the full concert band and realize how many years of training it takes to sound so good.
This year's Children's Concert theme celebrates sports and the Olympics. Children and adults are invited to come dressed in their favorite sports uniforms. So, if you are a Cubs fan, and who isn't these days: wear a Cubs T-shirt and a baseball cap. Or if a child is on a little league team, come dressed in that uniform. Or if a child really is a Batman fan, come donned in that costume. It is an eclectic evening to just have fun. The music, performed expertly under the direction of Dr. Bruce Moss, entertains the young and young at heart.
The evening opens with Wayne Mesmer singing "The Star Spangled Banner." Mesmer has sung "The Star Spangled Banner" before the games of almost all the professional sports teams in Chicago, including the Blackhawks, the Bears, the White Sox, the Cubs, the Sting and the Wolves. Mesmer has performed with the Wheaton Municipal Band in the past, but on June 23, Mesmer will also take on the role of announcer.
The music shimmers with the energy and excitement of sports, heroics and the Olympics. Olympics Centennial Celebration opens the concert, followed by music from the movies, "The Hunger Games" and "Frozen." The audience will delight in the Allegro movement of the "William Tell Overture" often associated with horse racing. The "Horse Race Trumpet Fanfare" features the band's outstanding trumpet section. Other compositions include "Fanfare" and "Call to the Post" and "Wind Sprints" by Saucedo, "The National Game" by Sousa, and "Track Meet" by Bennet. In addition, Bryant Millet, principal trumpet, will perform an Eb cornet solo by Sachse. The 3b cornet is similar to a piccolo trumpet and plays higher than a normal trumpet. This is Millet's first year with the Wheaton Municipal Band.
Don't miss this wonderful evening of music and fun: Thursday, June 23 at 7:30 p.m. Don't forget to come early for the petting zoo at 6:30 p.m. Everything takes place in Memorial Park in downtown Wheaton. Bring a lawn chair and a picnic and enjoy a fun-filled concert. For more information go to the band's website at www.wheatonmunicipalband.org.