Wheaton Municipal Band to perform family concert

Before the Wheaton Municipal Band performs a family concert this week, kids - and even curious adults - can test out the instruments to see whether they have the makings of a future musician.

The Wheaton Municipal Band's Children's Concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 23, in Memorial Park, 208 W. Union Ave., Wheaton. An Instrument Petting Zoo precedes the concert 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. If you are a Cubs fan, 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 dressed in that costume. It is an eclectic evening to just have fun. The music, performed under the direction of Bruce Moss, entertains the young and young at heart.

The evening opens with Wayne Mesmer singing "The Star Spangled Banner." Mesmer has sung the national anthem 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, and also will take on the role of announcer at this year's concert.

The music shimmers with the energy and excitement of sports, heroics and the Olympics. "Olympics: A Centennial Celebration" opens the concert, followed by music from the movies "The Hunger Games" and "Frozen." The audience will enjoy 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 "Windsprints" by Robert Saucedo, "The National Game" by John Philip Sousa, and "Track Meet" by Bennett. In addition, Bryant Millet, principal trumpet, will perform a 3b 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.

Bring a lawn chair and a picnic. For information, visit wheatonmunicipalband.org.