Festival gives community bands greater exposure
It's been a decade since Glenn Arnold came up with an idea to introduce local residents to various community bands.
Today, the Wheaton Band Festival continues to strike the right chord with area music lovers.
"We didn't even think about how long it might go when it started," said Arnold, the festival's president. "I am glad it has gone this long. It's been very enjoyable."
Five bands are scheduled to take the stage Friday and Saturday, July 16 and 17, as part of the annual festival. In addition to the usual mix of brass, concert and military bands, this year's festival will have something new: a jazz band.
The free two-night festival begins at 7:15 p.m. Friday with a concert by the Chicago Brass Band in the band shell at Memorial Park, near North Hale and West Seminary in downtown Wheaton.
At 8:30 p.m. Friday, Switch Time Jazz Ensemble becomes the first jazz band to play the festival.
"We've never had a jazz band before," Arnold said. "So we're spreading out a little bit and getting a little more variety."
Saturday's evening of music will begin at 6 p.m. with a performance by the Fox Valley Concert Band. The Geneva-based all-volunteer group has performed in the festival every year.
Then Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band will take the Wheaton festival stage at 7:05 p.m.
Closing the festival is the award-winning Joliet American Legion Band, which is set to perform at 8:10 p.m. Saturday. Founded in 1946 by World War II veterans who had grown up playing together in Joliet school bands, the band performs a variety of music, including patriotic marches, show tunes and contemporary pieces.
"They are a fantastic group," Arnold said. "They put on a tremendous, patriotic program."
Between the live performances, an instrument petting zoo for children will be set up at the Memorial Park gazebo. Children will be allowed to pick up and ask questions about various musical instruments.
If you own a band or orchestra instrument you no longer use, festival organizers once again will be accepting donations of musical instruments for the Salvation Army's youth music program.
The instruments will be given to disadvantaged children and teens in Chicago. Arnold said the donations allow the young people to join classes, bands and summer music camps offered by the Metropolitan Division of the Salvation Army.
For information about the festival, visit wheatonbandfestival.org.
<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p>
<p class="News"><b>What:</b> Wheaton Band Festival</p>
<p class="News"><b>When:</b> 7:15 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 16, and 6 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 17</p>
<p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Memorial Park in downtown Wheaton</p>
<p class="News"><b>Admission:</b> Free</p>
<p class="News"><b>Info:</b> <a href="http://wheatonbandfestival.org" target="new">wheatonbandfestival.org</a></p>