Wheaton band fest's success a team effort

Thank you for your coverage of this year's Wheaton Band Festival. Bob Sanchez's article captured the mission and the spirit of the festival. We also appreciated the listings in "Mark Your Calendar" and "Out&About."

For 11 years I've been amazed and gratified by the cooperation of the Wheaton Park District, the city of Wheaton, the Wheaton Police Department and the Gary United Methodist Church for our annual summer event.

Wheaton residents continue to donate music instruments that the Salvation Army reconditions and places in the hands of disadvantaged children and teens in the inner-city of Chicago. The young people are then able to join music classes, bands and summer music camps offered by the Salvation Army. Bill Moore of Wheaton gave 20 percussion instruments this spring.

We appreciate the financial support of Tyndale House Publishers, the Chicago Brass Band benefit concert, Retirement Planners, Inc., Donald A. Dale, DDS, Wheaton Bank and Trust Company, Wheaton/Glen Ellyn Community Bank, Wheaton Noon Rotary Club, Sarah Meisels and the Wheaton Eye Clinic. Dozens of Wheaton residents and some from other area communities also made individual contributions.

The Chicago Brass Band, the Switch Foot Jazz Ensemble, the Fox Valley Concert Band, the Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band and the Joliet American Legion Band gave superb concerts that were enthusiastically received by the festival attendees.

The Wheaton Municipal Band provided the music stands and chairs in the band shell, and The Friends of the Municipal Band operated the concession stand selling snacks, water and soft drinks on both steamy nights.

Glenn F. Arnold

President, Wheaton Band Festival