Wheaton Municipal Band celebrates conductor’s 45th year

The Wheaton Municipal Band will honor conductor Bruce Moss and his 45th season at the helm of the ensemble with a pair of special concerts.

The band’s Thursday, July 25, night performance in the downtown Memorial Park band shell will feature favorite selections from both audience members and Moss.

Then on Saturday, July 27, a free concert in the Wheaton College Edman Chapel will include two former students of Moss: Lt. Col. Ryan Nowlin, director of the “President’s Own” United States Marine Band in Washington, D. C., and John Hagstrom, second trumpet in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Under Moss’ baton, the band has performed at the elite Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference. The community band also appeared in the “If You Knew Sousa” documentary, aired as part of the “American Experience” series.

Moss began conducting the band in 1980 while teaching music at York High School in Elmhurst. He recently retired as the director of bands at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.