News

Wheaton Municipal Band opens 'celebratory season'

Posted June 03, 2009 11:00 pm

By Jessica Sabbah Daily Herald Staff

The Wheaton Municipal Band has 505 years worth of celebrating to do as it begins its 2009 summer schedule tonight.

Not only does the band turn 80 this year, but Wheaton is ringing in its 150th anniversary.

If that wasn't enough, this marks the 30th season the band has been under the leadership of music director Bruce Moss and the 45th season trombonist Al Loek of Woodridge has performed with the group. The ensemble also plans to pay tribute to Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday during this celebratory season.

The band, which is funded by the city of Wheaton, was created in 1930 and has been providing musical entertainment for generations of residents ever since.

"This is one thing that's so special to see the city support," band announcer Pete Friedmann said. "It speaks volumes to the quality of life they're trying to maintain for the people."

Don Cavalli, band president and clarinet player, said it's amazing that throughout the past 80 years the city has continued its support even during tough economic times.

While many band members travel only a short distance to get to the Memorial Park bandshell where they perform, Moss begins his journey a day earlier. The conductor and music director commutes each week from his home in Buffalo Grove, Ohio, the night before each concert and heads back to Ohio the morning after.

"(Moss's commute) shows insight into his character and how much Bruce enjoys doing this," said Cavalli, a Naperville resident.

After conducting the band for the first time in 1979 when he was the music department chair at Elmhurst's York High School, Moss took the job permanently in 1980. When not conducting the Wheaton group, he serves as the director of bands and professor at Bowling Green University.

"It's a wonderful feeling that we've worked together so well for so long," he said.

His "sidekick" of 28 years, Friedmann of Morton Grove, has nothing but kind words for Moss, whom he believes is the longest-running music director in the band's history.

"It's such a rare, if not unique situation where a professional with such talent and vision sees how special this community and band really is," Friedmann said.

Along with all the anniversaries and birthdays to celebrate, Cavalli said the band also has adopted two missions for the season.

During his childhood, Cavalli watched the group with his family year after year creating memories that have lasted and he hopes to spread that tradition to other families in the community. The band also will do a number of things during the season to encourage audience members to shop downtown.

The band will perform 10 Thursday and two Saturday concerts during the summer season. The first concert, "Curtain Up!" begins at 8 p.m. today in Memorial Park, 208 W. Union Ave.

Wheaton Municipal Band Director Bruce Moss has been leading the Wheaton Municipal Band for 30 years. Courtesy of Wheaton Municipal Band

If you go The Wheaton Municipal Band performs at 8 p.m. Thursdays this summer at Memorial Park, 208 W. Union Ave. The concerts are free. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.wheatonmunicipalband.org" target="new">www.wheatonmunicipalband.org</a> • June 4: Curtain Up! • June 11: Happy 150th Birthday, Wheaton • June 18: A Children's Masquerade • June 25: Camphouse Conducts Camphouse x 2 • July 2: Patriotic, Through and Through • July 9: Whitwell Conducts • July 16: Simply Wheaton - A Night in Memorial Park • July 23: My Favorite Things • July 30: Celtic Classics • Aug. 6: Wheaton Jazz Band Special performances • Wheaton Fourth of July Parade at 10 a.m. July 4 from Main Street in downtown Wheaton • Tributes, Portraits and Memories at 8 p.m. July 25 at Wheaton College's Edman Memorial Chapel, 401 E. Franklin Ave.

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