Naperville band celebrates 150 years

The Naperville Municipal Band celebrated its 150th anniversary Thursday with a concert in Central Park.

The show united both current and former musicians, including more than 35 alumni who made the trip to Naperville from across the country.

The alumni played three songs alone, one with current band members.

Among the alumni was Mayor George Pradel playing the alto horn of Adam Keller. The two were bandmates from 1954 to 1956.

Keller's son Ron has been the band's director since 1966 and also serves as its historian. He says the band is the second-oldest organization in Naperville. Only the Masonic Temple is older.

The Naperville Municipal Band began in 1859 with 15 men who played at Barber's Corners. Today, it has 95 members.

The band's shows at the Community Concert Center in Central Park regularly draw audiences of 2,500, while patriotic concerts draw as many as 7,000.