The Wheaton Municipal Band Celebrates Pete Friedmann's 35th Anniversary as the Band's Announcer
If you are a regular attendee of Wheaton Municipal Band concerts, then you know Pete Friedmann. He has been the WMB's charastmatic announcer for the past 35 years. On Thursday, August 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Park in downtown Wheaton, the Wheaton Municipal Band performs a concert to celebrates Pete Friedmann and his contribution to the band.
The challenge for a band announcer is to know what to say, how to say it, and keep the comments short so the audience can enjoy the music. Friedmann is masterful at the craft. He comes up with amazing facts about the music and the composers. He even has coined the phrase "Mosstro" instead of Maestro (for Dr. Bruce Moss, the band's music director). "My favorite memory of Pete is the 2010 Children's Sponge Bob Concert," said Don Cavalli, the band's president. "I tried to attach a stuffed parrot prop to my shoulder pads, but it fell off on stage. Without missing a beat, Pete picked up the bird and called him Mini-Moss. He was so entertaining that the children came back stage at intermission to see Mimi-Moss," Cavalli said.
Friedmann not only announces for the band, at times he is asked to perform musical selections that have a script. The WMB Manager, Steve Klaus remembers, when Friedmann narrated the musical composition, The Greatest Generation. "The piece dealt with the themes of sacrifice and patriotism in the wake of danger and uncertainty. Pete's preparation, inflections, and passion in the narration made it a very moving and memorable moment for the band and the crowd. I'm not sure there was a dry eye anywhere, and the standing ovation showed how much the audience appreciated his efforts."
In July 2015, the Band celebrated the release of Dr. Seuss' long lost "What Pet Should I Get". Pete came out rhyming all his announcements. Dr. Seuss would have been proud.
"Pete is like a brother to me," said Dr. Bruce Moss. "We trust each other and the antics the audience sees on the stage are real and genuine." "We have our little jokes that we play on each other from time to time," says Moss. "There's a mixture of playful humor and tension as we present a new concert each week."
The Wheaton Municipal Band commissioned The Friedmann Fanfare to commemorate Pete's 35th year with the band. Scott Boerma, the Director of Bands at Western Michigan University and a well-known composer, wrote the work. It was first performed on July 7, 2016 and will be performed once again at the August 4 concert.
The programming for the August 4 concert is a secret. Music selections have been chosen to honor Friendmann. The audience can be assured that it will be a wonderful night of music and celebration. Don't miss this wonderful concert that celebrates Pete Friedmann, Thursday, August 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Park in downtown Wheaton. www.wheatonmunicipalband.org.